zlacker

Honestly cannot tell if you're trolling. If journalists are getting roughed up more because of sensationalism (still well within their 1st amendment rights) that is _completely_ the fault of police.

One side has cameras. The other side has guns. When violence happens, who's fault do you think it is?

>>august+(OP)
Do you agree that police have the right to declare a gathering unlawful and can clear the area?

>>99_00+P7
The police? Not so much. Police don't make law, they shouldn't get to decide very many things at all.

The state (or city, or nation, where appropriate)? Absolutely, but only when absolutely necessary. (like curfew orders which follow widespread disorder and destruction)

>>99_00+P7
Clear the area how? I think people have forgotten this doesn't need to mean your first step is pulling out the batons. If you tell a journalist they are under arrest, they will always comply. They won't fight back. So yes, still cops' fault.

>>colech+u9
In practice, they do have that right. And they have the right to use reasonable force to enforce that. So arguing that police are always wrong to use force to clear an area, regardless if media are there or not, is an argument against the laws as they are.

That's a hard argument to make.

>>august+Gc
>I think people have forgotten this doesn't need to mean your first step is pulling out the batons.

When and where did this happen? The first step is verbally telling people to clear the area.

>If you tell a journalist they are under arrest, they will always comply. They won't fight back. So yes, still cops' fault.

Given the fact that the police are always outnumbered in these situations, and vehicles, jails and officers have limited capacity, arresting everyone who doesn't comply is impossible. So they are first asked to leave. If they don't they are pushed out of the area by force.

If reporters are too close to the police line that is pushing people they will get pushed along with everyone else. Breaking the line weakens it and hampers the police's efforts.