Doxxing, assault, death threats: the new dangers facing leftist journalists covering extremism

As violent street protests between the far right and anti-fascists become standard fare, rightwingers see the press as a threat – and aren’t shy to act on it
Jason Wilson

Doxxing, assault, death threats: the new dangers facing leftist journalists covering extremism 6016

Doxxing, assault, death threats: the new dangers facing leftist journalists covering extremism 6016

The truth business is becoming more dangerous for many American journalists.

Two Sundays ago, the Portland Mercury reporter Kelly Kenoyer, 24, went downtown to cover a violent street protest. It was the first such protest she had worked as a journalist – Kenoyer didn’t begin her career until after the election of Donald Trump.

Within minutes, she was being shoved and manhandled by a masked man aligned with the rightwing Patriot Prayer group.
Far-right group brawls with antifascist protesters in Portland streets
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“I got close to record the argument he was having with [a] counter-protester and he stuck his middle finger up in front of the camera,” Kenoyer says, “then shoved me sideways with the same arm.”

A bystander intervened on Kenoyer’s behalf, and he in turn was threatened by another Patriot Prayer protester. Then “someone shoved him into me and I fell backwards”, Kenoyer says.

Kenoyer was shaken by the incident, but after a few minutes she steeled herself to continue her coverage.

Soon after, she narrowly dodged a rock during an exchange of missiles on Portland’s waterfront. Both sides – rightwing activists and leftwing counter-protesters – were hurling stones and bottles, but the rock that hurtled by her came from where the rightwing group was.

Kenoyer’s encounters were part of a long afternoon of violent brawling in the streets of downtown Portland. Each side of the protest was mostly concerned with the other, but reporters were frequently caught in the crossfire or even, like Kenoyer, specifically targeted.

Other journalists were seen with tears streaming down their faces from pepper spray, or narrowly dodging fists and flying objects. For the most part, they were not beat specialists, but local reporters. In Portland, contentious and violent street protests have become standard fare on local news.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/14/doxxing-assault-death-threats-the-new-dangers-facing-us-journalists-covering-extremism

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Doxxing, assault, death threats: the new dangers facing leftist journalists covering extremism

Doxxing, assault, death threats: the new dangers facing leftist journalists covering extremism

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