MOSCOW, August 18 (RIA Novosti) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of two journalists, covering the protests in Ferguson, MO, and demands the investigation of the law enforcement actions, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Americas desk, Camille Soulier, told RIA Novosti on Monday.
"Reporters Without Borders condemns the arbitrary detention of Wesley Lowery of The Washington Post and Ryan Reilly of The Huffington Post, especially considering ерфе they clearly identified themselves as journalists, covering the protests," Soulier said, stressing that they actually were not even in the midst of the manifestations when they were detained.
Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery and Huffington Post reporter Ryan J. Reilly were taken into custody by local police on late Wednesday as they were working on the coverage of the demonstrations at Ferguson McDonalds.
"Such abuse shows that even in countries like the United States the police has to be sensitized the importance of journalists' role in the coverage of peaceful protests, as stated the UN Human Rights Council resolution of 28 March 2014," Soulier said.
"Officials need to deliver clear orders to anti-riot police in cases of peaceful protests so that freedom of information is respected at all times," Soulier said.
"RWB demands that this abuse be investigated in due time and in a transparent way," she concluded.
The protests have been ongoing in Ferguson, MO, for over a week now. They have been touched off by the shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown by the police officer.
Brown, an 18-year-old black man allegedly resisted his arrest. US President Barack Obama ordered the FBI and the Department of Justice to join the investigation.
