Do you see mainstream media out here RISKING THEIR LIVES to show you the violent fascist attack on unarmed protesters?!? What about other big independent media?!? WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT to afford to stay ON-THE-GROUND. SUPPORT for as low as 16 cents a day ($5 bucks a month)
Over the weekend, Democratic New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill deployed her state police to wage a BRUTAL UNDECLARED WAR on unarmed anti-ICE protesters and journalists.
“Somebody’s gonna get killed out here!” our brave videojournalist Jon Farina screamed amidst a barrage of flash bang grenades. “The state police are gonna kill somebody tonight!” he screamed while grenades were fired at him and protesters.
WATCH ABOVE A CLIP FROM OUR RISKY ON THE GROUND JOURNALISM
Over several hours, NJ state police:
Fired an UNRELENTING BARRAGE of flash bang grenades at point blank range smack dab into the middle of densely packed groups of unarmed protesters. If one of those grenades ended up directly hitting someone, it could KILL OR MAIM THEM.
Deployed an UNRELENTING BARRAGE of tear gas at unarmed protesters and journalists, causing injury to protesters’ and journalists eyes and lungs while also impairing their vision at a chaotic time where they needed to be able to see their surroundings as threatening projectiles were launched at them.
Fired an UNRELENTING BARRAGE of pepper balls, rubber bullets, and other so-called “less lethal” ammunition smack dab into the middle of densely packed unarmed protesters and journalists.
For several minutes, refused to allow a badly injured Associated Press photographer—who was so injured she was placed in a wheelchair—to exit the street and go to the hospital. “I’m begging you I’m in so much pain!” injured
AP photographer Angelina Katsanis yelled at NJ state police. They finally allowed her through after 4 minutes.
Injured yours truly after firing a flash bang grenade right at my cameraman and my feet. After it went off, I fell backwards onto my lower back—which I’ve already had 2 surgeries on—and immediately felt my back lock up. I had to essentially crawl to the nearby grass because I could not stand without pain.
Created an illegal curfew for press and threatened to arrest our videojournalist Jon Farina if he didn’t stop covering protests and leave the area. Jon refused to leave (we will have a separate Substack post on that).
**AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST ARE ALL OF OUR WEEKEND LIVESTREAMS CAPTURING THIS BRUTALITY**
We have been LIVE ON THE GROUND EVERY DAY of the now 11-day ICE prisoner hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall. Working 18 hour days on little sleep, we have been shot at, tear gassed, violently pushed into oncoming truck traffic by ICE, and live-streamed for well over 25 hours over just a few days. Meanwhile, we ROUTINELY see MAINSTREAM MEDIA “journalist” sitting in the safety of there cars—waiting to go live on their networks and PRETEND they have been braving the violence.
If you are not yet a paying Status Coup member—for as low as $5 bucks a month—I kindly ask you to sign up TODAY. Honestly, we will not be able to stay ON THE GROUND much longer as expenses pile up. We are INDEPENDENTLY FUNDED and this type of reporting—paying staff, freelancers, for safety equipment, the cost just to go live for hours (it’s expensive), and travel costs—add up quickly. PLEASE SUPPORT US AS A PAYING MEMBER. You can also DONATE.
WATCH/SHARE ALL OUR LIVESTREAMS FROM THIS WEEKEND COVERING THIS BRUTALITY
