DoomsdaysCW<p>Who is next? You or I for taking pictures of protest signs? This is a very slippery slope to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Fascism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Fascism</span></a>!</p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NYC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>NYC</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/journalist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>journalist</span></a> who documented <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ProPalestinian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ProPalestinian</span></a> vandalism arrested on felony <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HateCrime" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HateCrime</span></a> charges</p><p>“This is an extremely serious charge against a <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/journalist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>journalist</span></a>. If he did not a participant in these events, this could be a brazen violation of the right of the press to gather news.” -- attorney Robert Balin</p><p>By JAKE OFFENHARTZ<br>Updated 3:46 PM EDT, August 6, 2024</p><p>NEW YORK (AP) — "A New York City journalist was arrested on felony hate crime charges Tuesday after filming a pro-<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Palestinian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Palestinian</span></a> protest earlier this summer in which activists hurled red paint at the homes of top leaders at the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BrooklynMuseum" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BrooklynMuseum</span></a>.</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SamuelSeligson" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SamuelSeligson</span></a>, an independent videographer, was not involved in the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/vandalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>vandalism</span></a>, but is accused of traveling in a car with the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/activists" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>activists</span></a> and entering private property with them, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the case.</p><p>"The official spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.</p><p>"Leena Widdi, an attorney for Seligson, said New York Police Department officers twice raided Seligson’s Brooklyn apartment in the past week before he turned himself in early Tuesday.</p><p>"She described the arrest and use of a hate crime statute as an 'appalling' overreach by police against a journalist with a city-issued press credential. Seligson, who is Jewish, is a fixture at New York City protests who has licensed and sold footage to mainstream outlets, including Reuters and ABC News.</p><p>"'Samuel is being charged for alleged behavior that is protected by the First amendment and consistent with his job as a credentialed member of the press,' Widdi said in an email. 'What is even more concerning, however, is that this member of the press is being charged with a hate crime.'"</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-nypd-sam-seligson-brooklyn-museum-eea8ee12248d38d856fe5cabcac7a0d1" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">apnews.com/article/gaza-nypd-s</span><span class="invisible">am-seligson-brooklyn-museum-eea8ee12248d38d856fe5cabcac7a0d1</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FirstAmendment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FirstAmendment</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FreeSpeech" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FreeSpeech</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FreePress" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FreePress</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ACAB" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ACAB</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FreePalestine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FreePalestine</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PressFreedom" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PressFreedom</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HumanRights" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HumanRights</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Protest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Protest</span></a></p>