Free speech groups speak out against assault of journalists in Quebec City
By Grant Buckler
During a counter-protest to a planned far-right demonstration in Quebec City Sunday, two Global News journalists were assaulted and a camera smashed, Global News reported.
Global said its cameraman Jean-Vincent Verveille was assaulted by protesters, one of whom destroyed his camera. Reporter Mike Armstrong was shoved down some stairs in the incident.
Protestors wearing black with their faces covered smashed @merjvv's camera. pic.twitter.com/Zv47DW5tf1
— Dan Spector (@danspector) August 20, 2017
Armstrong tweeted that the attackers belonged to a violent group of anti-fascist protesters. Neither Armstrong nor Verveille were injured, Global said.
“Assaults on media workers erode press freedom rights and undermine the critical role journalists play in strengthening democracy,” Canadian Journalists for Free Expression said in a statement. “During periods of social unrest, journalists act as observers and disseminators of up-to-date news on these public interest issues, and thus must be allowed freedom to conduct their work. Journalists also work to gather and publish evidence which can help to support demonstrators claims of police brutality or repression.”
“Acts of violence against journalists and media personnel while covering protests undermine the press’s ability to accurately report news that is in the public’s interest,” said Margaux Ewen, advocacy and communications director for the North America Bureau of Reporters Without Borders, in a statement. “Those responsible for this deplorable incident should be immediately identified and charged accordingly.”
Editor’s note, August 24, 2017: A previous version of this story included a headline that incorrectly stated that the events took place in Montreal. They took place in Quebec City. We apologize for the error.
Grant Buckler is a retired freelance journalist and a volunteer with Canadian Journalists for Free Expression and lives in Kingston, Ont.