SPJ Oregon Statement On The Assault of Freelance Journalist Maranie Staab

A freelance journalist was physically assaulted Sunday afternoon at a demonstration in Portland.

A video from Aug. 22 shows protesters wearing all black calling freelance journalist Maranie Staab a sexist slur, then later throwing her to the ground.

This is assault. Assaulting journalists runs counter to the ideals of our democracy. The Greater Oregon Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists stands by journalists’ First Amendment right to cover incidents and demonstrations and to provide clear documentation of these events to keep everyone informed.

This isn’t the first time SPJ Oregon has had to issue a statement like this. It adds to the many acts of anti-press violence by both police and protesters in recent years. We call on everyone in our state and beyond to reflect on the harm these acts inflict on the person they’re traumatizing and the damage they cause to our country as we continually see attempts to weaken our free press.