The Minnesota Police have arrested CNN journalist Omar Jimenez and at least two crew members and taken into Minnesota State Patrol custody during a live broadcast on Friday covering protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
In the live broadcast, Omar Jimenez could be seen reporting on protests before pausing as state patrol officers appeared to pursue a demonstrator.
The journalist, who is black, is then seen speaking with state patrol officers directly, as he identified himself and his crew including a producer and a camera operator as journalists.
He then tells the officers the team would be willing to relocate if their location is an issue.
Eventually, Omar Jimenez resumes reporting, when a state patrol officer tells him he is under arrest.
“Do you mind telling me why I’m under arrest, sir?” the journalist asks as the officer begins to handcuff him.
CNN anchors expressed confusion at the incident, saying they did not understand why their correspondent was being taken into custody.
They asserted that the reporting team had been standing where they had previously been directed to stand prior to the arrest.
In a statement published on Twitter, CNN demanded the journalists’ release and said the arrests represented a “clear violation” of journalists’ First Amendment rights.
“A CNN reporter & his production team were arrested this morning in Minneapolis for doing their jobs, despite identifying themselves-a clear violation of their First Amendment rights,” CNN said.
“The authorities in Minnesota, incl. the Governor, must release the 3 CNN employees immediately,” the broadcaster asserted.
Following the arrest, anchors on CNN’s New Day spoke to correspondent Josh Campbell, a white journalist reporting from the same area that Jimenez had been located in.