United States of America
Monday 22.6.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments
Countrywide protests to end police brutality in the United States met by militarised law enforcement
Massive protests erupted in cities across the United States following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, by a Minneapolis police officer on 25th May 2020. A harrowing video filmed by witnesses shows the officer pressing his knee into the handcuffed man's neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.” Outrage brimmed over, bringing hundreds of thousands to the streets to protest entrenched racism and the US’s long history of killings of Black and Brown people by law enforcement agents. Read more
Monday 20.4.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments
Spread of coronavirus and emergency safety measures put pressure on civic freedoms
Across the country, workers deemed essential during the coronavirus emergency staged walk-outs and other protests over insufficient personal protection equipment and to demand benefits such as paid sick leave or healthcare. Read more
Wednesday 18.3.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments
Unprecedented executive action and rhetoric harm press freedom in the U.S.
On 27th January 2020, the State Department barred an NPR reporter from accompanying Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on an official trip, allegedly in retaliation for a dispute between Pompeo and another NPR reporter. NPR’s Michele Kelemen was removed from the list of reporters allowed to fly with Pompeo on a trip to Eastern Europe, only days after the secretary reportedly swore and yelled at another NPR reporter for asking questions about Ukraine. Read more
Monday 13.1.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments
People in the US turn to protest to demand changes to the status quo
As part of a campaign against University of California (UC)’s outsourcing of jobs, thousands of the school’s service and patient care workers held a strike on 13th November 2019. Read more
Monday 25.11.2019 United States of America - Latest Developments
Freedoms under attack with legislation restricting protests and hostility toward journalists
In September and October 2019, there were protests across the U.S. calling on leaders to address climate change while some states have been considering legislation that would criminalise protests near certain infrastructure sites, including oil pipelines - which are often contested by climate and indigenous rights activists. This update also details protests on refugee & immigration policy, education, police brutality and pro- and against President Trump. In the 'Expression' section, incidents of harassment of journalists show an increasingly hostile environment for the press in the U.S. Read more
Wednesday 2.10.2019 United States of America - Latest Developments
Puerto Rico protests lead to Governor’s resignation
This civic space update covers mass demonstrations against corruption in Puerto Rico in July 2019, federal immigration policies in the U.S. over July-September as well as protests and counter-protests on multiple issues. It also details a number of incidents related to freedom of expression, including a number of episodes indicating that harassment at border is becoming more common for journalists and activists. Read more
Wednesday 17.7.2019 United States of America - Latest Developments
Espionage Act charges against Assange jeopardise press freedom
In the period covered by this update, from 20th May to the 8th July 2019, there have been coordinated rallies and demonstrations across the US on issues ranging from migration, women's rights, public housing and climate change. In many cases, demonstrations resulted in the arrest of some participants. There have also been a number of developments related to freedom of association and expression - in particular, indictments in the Assange WikiLeaks case which have drawn concerns over the state of press freedom in the country. Read more
Friday 24.5.2019 United States of America - Latest Developments
New Restrictions on White House press correspondents
In early May 2019, the Trump administration implemented new standards for journalists to receive press credentials to attend White House press briefings, essentially revoking the passes for many longtime White House reporters. Read more
Monday 29.4.2019 United States of America - Latest Developments
Whistleblower reveals government monitoring journalists and activists due to their work
The government has created a secret database to monitor journalists and activists engaged on issues related to migrants at or near the U.S. border with Mexico, according to a 6th March report from NBC News. Read more
Thursday 31.1.2019 United States of America - Latest Developments
Government shutdown drives workers to protest Washington's inaction
On 3rd December 2018, hundreds of people protested at the Wisconsin state Capital building to voice opposition to legislation that would diminish the powers of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general. Read more
