Journos alarmed by warrant for arrest for Amy Goodman

The Committee to Protect Journalists has issued a statement condemning the warrant for arrest for Amy Goodman, host and producer for radio news show Democracy Now!. The warrant was issued over the weekend by Morton County sheriff’s department (North Dakota) and lists criminal trespass charges against the radio show host (it also cites protester and community leader Cody Hall who is seen in the video) who was at the Dakota Pipeline protest site covering the anti-pipeline activists. Goodman was reporting on protesters who had breached a barrier and were subsequently attacked by security dogs and sprayed with pepper spray. Here is the video. She could face jail time if prosecuted.

“Prosecutors in the U.S. state of North Dakota should immediately drop all criminal charges against broadcast journalist Amy Goodman.” began the CPJ statement.

Hall was arrested and jailed without bail and was released on Sept. 12. North Dakota does not have anti-SLAPP laws to protect and compensate activists against unsuccessful litigations.

Images: Protesters gather near the Dakota Pipeline construction site by AP/ James MacPearson appearing on CPJ press release. Cody Hall in #freecodyhall from Facebook (unknown).