But Cobourg Police sent a strong message by charging a 41-year-old woman with assault
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It seems to be open season when it comes to accosting and assaulting journalists these days.
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Photographers and videographers are most vulnerable because they can’t easily see what’s coming at them. Being struck, pushed, harassed or intimidated, or having their phone or camera taken from them, is an everyday occurrence for shooters now.
As a journalist it doesn’t take much anymore to be punched, pushed or have your camera or cellphone blocked, grabbed or thrown.
But sometimes you are more ready for it than others.
Today’s Northumberland reporter and photographer Pete Fisher was simply recording video of a van parked in a fire lane getting a ticket from a bylaw officer Tuesday morning when he was confronted. There had been a fire at a homeless encampment nearby and he felt bad that the person in the van – known to assist people with issues there – was getting a ticket and, as photographers do, instinctively rolled on it.
He hadn’t even got out of his car when the trouble started. The woman was apparently infuriated about him taking video and came out of her van, walked about 30 steps and, allegedly, thrust her hand into the camera.
The footage is wild. But this was just the beginning.
After returning to her van, Fisher was once again back in control of his high-quality, expensive cellphone and continued recording.
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Then, looking almost like a replay, the woman got back out of her van and allegedly approaches him again.
“You are a f—— a——,” she is captured saying. “Stop videotaping people. Stop being a psychotic person.”
Fisher said his eyeglasses were grabbed from his head and thrown to the ground.
Police here charged a woman for allegedly assaulting legendary Today’s Northumberland journalist Pete Fisher @NT_pfisher in Cobourg Tuesday. — police need to crack down on the attacks on photographers at encampments and protests. @CobourgPolice have set standard pic.twitter.com/o3wTXM3xQ0
Two security guards at the homeless encampment came to Fisher’s aid and Cobourg Police laid a criminal assault charge against a woman named Jennifer Frenke. The 41-year-old accused was released from custody but asked to return for a court date in June.
The allegation not been tested in court, so she is innocent until proven guilty.
Her Facebook account states, “I believe in loving kindness, inclusion and compassion for all.”
Frenke has also advocated for the homeless, including in an April 30 social media post where she wrote, “Where are people supposed to go,” in response to a transition house being almost at full capacity and expressing concern that a homeless tent city will grow from an already high number of 37 campers.
Earlier this year, she posted a crowdfunding effort on GoFundMe for Camp 413 in downtown Cobourg, which has so far seen $26,175 donated, to help “raise enough money to provide shelter for 25 people,” including special tents with wood stoves and a communal kitchen.
Thankfully, Fisher was not hurt.
Being out there for 40 years capturing the stories of his region, he’s a robust customer. However, no person should have to endure what appears in his video.
He was just doing his job.
Cobourg Police - Cobourg Woman Charged with Assaulting Media (No Name Released)https://t.co/43MB9P1Sni
Same goes for independent journalist Carmya Sa’d and her videographer who have been dealing with similar confrontations at the “Little Gaza” encampment on the University of Toronto’s campus. The latest incident occurred Wednesday evening when they noticed smoke inside the fence and people fanning the flames with a tarp.
A risk to people and property, they rightfully recorded video of this and were subsequently challenged by someone self-appointed as a security marshal but who has no standing there whatsoever. The photographer said he was physically touched, and you can see the hand in the lens.
Why do you let these thugs intimidate journalists like this @TPSMyronDemkiw @fordnation @JustinTrudeau @MayorOliviaChow @UofT @OPPCommissioner — this has gone on too long. Why didn’t @Toronto_Fire respond to whether fire permits/safety checks occurred? Why do occupiers have more… https://t.co/SP90jiEyTy
There have been no charges in this case. And that may be the problem.
At these illegal encampments or blockade-style protests now, the participants seem to feel more emboldened that they’re in charge and they can take policing into their own hands.
They can also get reporters arrested, as we have seen twice recently with David Menzies, of Rebel News, while he was in the process of merely asking questions, including in January to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Reporters are allowed to ask questions and camera operators are legally permitted to capture what they see in a public space in a country with a free press.
While not proven in court, this charge by Cobourg Police sends an important message – reminding demonstrators that no matter how passionate or angry they are, they are not above the law and reporters are legally permitted to record video, shoot photos and report or comment on anything they chose from public spaces.
And no one is allowed to touch them.
Protesters or activists don’t have any legal right to impede a journalist, blogger or member of the public in any way.
Yet some seem to think they do.
jwarmington@postmedia.com
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