Amnesty International Accuses U.S. Authorities of Silencing Journalists Over Immigration Protest Coverage

Amnesty International Accuses U.S. Authorities of Silencing Journalists Over Immigration Protest Coverage
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Amnesty International has accused U.S. authorities of attempting to intimidate and silence journalists who report on alleged abuses related to immigration policies and law enforcement.

The accusation follows the filing of serious criminal charges by the United States Department of Justice against several media representatives, including journalist Georgia Fort, in connection with their coverage of a protest in the state of Minnesota.

According to Amnesty, Fort and other journalists documented a protest held on January 18 inside a church in Minnesota, where one of the pastors also serves as a field office director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a statement, the organization said the Justice Department has pursued multiple criminal charges against the journalists, including a “hate crime” charge. Amnesty noted that the charges rely on an old law historically used against the Ku Klux Klan, adding that authorities turned to a grand jury to secure indictments after courts rejected arrest warrant requests three times.

Amnesty linked the case to what it described as a broader pattern since January of last year, in which journalists and media outlets have faced pressure over coverage of policies under Donald Trump. The organization said such prosecutions appear aimed at deterring reporting on potential violations tied to immigration enforcement.

The statement also referenced a large-scale security operation involving more than 3,000 personnel using quasi-military tactics, during which an individual identified as Rini Good was killed by immigration agents. Amnesty added that three of the four journalists facing charges are Black Americans, raising additional concerns about racial discrimination and the targeting of minority journalists.

Amnesty International emphasized that covering protests and public events is a legitimate part of journalistic work and called on U.S. authorities to drop all charges against the journalists and uphold commitments to freedom of expression and press freedom.