A USA TODAY Network journalist was arrested on Facebook Live while covering protests in Delaware.
Andre Lamar, who has covered several demonstrations for The Dover Post since the death of George Floyd, was filming a Facebook Live of police officers detaining several protesters. bit.ly/2UtcCD3
He is heard asking officers repeatedly why they were being arrested. Then he filmed his own arrest. The video ends with officers confiscating his press badge and a camera bag. bit.ly/2UtcCD3
USA TODAY Network President and USA TODAY Publisher @mwadsworth called the arrests of journalists covering protests "unacceptable." She said her first concern was making sure Lamar was released as soon as possible. bit.ly/2UtcCD3
UPDATE: Andre Lamar was released from police custody later in the night, USA TODAY confirmed. bit.ly/2UtcCD3
Delaware Gov. John Carney immediately denounced Lamar's arrest.
“(Reporters) should not be arrested for doing their jobs. That’s not acceptable." Carney said as part of a statement to USA TODAY Tuesday. bit.ly/2UtcCD3
“(Reporters) should not be arrested for doing their jobs. That’s not acceptable." Carney said as part of a statement to USA TODAY Tuesday. bit.ly/2UtcCD3
The following is the full, uncut, 2:19 video of USA TODAY Network journalist Andre Lamar, who filmed his own arrest on Facebook Live while he was covering a protest in Delaware Tuesday.
UPDATE: The reporter was taken into custody and released Tuesday night. He said he was handcuffed to a wall in a waiting area once inside the state police barracks and then taken to a cell before being released. Our story has been updated. bit.ly/3e0USq0
