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The UK embassy in Washington has raised concerns with the US administration over British journalists who were subject to police action while covering protests over the death of George Floyd, Downing Street has said.
The move comes amid growing anger over the handling of media covering protest marches, with high-profile footage showing officers blocking cameras and even arresting one US correspondent during a live on-air report.
New York-based British photographer Adam Gray was thrown to the ground, handcuffed and arrested on Sunday while documenting protests in the city’s Union Square, despite displaying his press card to police.
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Prime minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “Our embassy in the US has raised the issue of the protests with the US administration, including on behalf of British journalists who were subject to police action.
“The prime minister and foreign secretary have both spoken publicly to condemn the death of George Floyd, to express concern at the violence we’ve seen, and to underline people’s right to protest peacefully.
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Police spray mace at protestors to break up a gathering near the Minneapolis Police third precinct after a white police officer was caught on a bystander’s video pressing his knee into the neck of African-American man George Floyd, who later died at a hospital, in Minneapolis
Reuters
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A protester holds a sign with an image of George Floyd
AP
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Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd
AFP via Getty
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A protester throws a piece of wood on a fire in the street just north of the 3rd Police Precinct
Getty
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People in other US cities also protested the murder, like Los Angeles
AFP via Getty
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Reuters
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AFP via Getty
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AFP via Getty
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AFP via Getty
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A police officer lobs a canister to break up crowds
Reuters
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A protester is treated after inhaling tear gas
Getty
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Two police officers stand on the roof of the Third Police Precinct during a face off with a group of protesters
Getty
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Protesters outside a Minneapolis police precinct two days after George Floyd died
EPA
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Protesters run from tear gas
Reuters
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AP
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Demonstrators gather to protest in Los Angeles
AP
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Police remove barricades set by protesters
AFP via Getty
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A fire burns inside of an Auto Zone store near the Third Police Precinct
Getty
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Flowers, signs and balloons are left near a makeshift memorial to George Floyd near the spot where he died
AFP via Getty
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A policeman faces a protester holding a placard in downtown Los Angeles
AFP via Getty
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A couple poses with a sign in Los Angeles
AFP via Getty
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 27: A man is tended to after sustaining an injury from a projectile shot by police outside the 3rd Police Precinct building on May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Four Minneapolis police officers have been fired after a video taken by a bystander was posted on social media showing Floyd’s neck being pinned to the ground by an officer as he repeatedly said, “I cant breathe”. Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Stephen Maturen
Getty
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Getty
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A protester reacts after inhaling tear gas
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Getty Images
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Protesters use shopping carts as a barricade
Getty Images
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Protesters clash with the police as they demonstrate against the death of George Floyd
AFP via Getty Images
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Police spray mace at protestors to break up a gathering near the Minneapolis Police third precinct after a white police officer was caught on a bystander’s video pressing his knee into the neck of African-American man George Floyd, who later died at a hospital, in Minneapolis
Reuters
2/30
A protester holds a sign with an image of George Floyd
AP
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Protesters demonstrate against the death of George Floyd
AFP via Getty
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A protester throws a piece of wood on a fire in the street just north of the 3rd Police Precinct
Getty
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People in other US cities also protested the murder, like Los Angeles
AFP via Getty
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Getty
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AP
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Reuters
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AFP via Getty
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AFP via Getty
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AFP via Getty
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A police officer lobs a canister to break up crowds
Reuters
13/30
A protester is treated after inhaling tear gas
Getty
14/30
Two police officers stand on the roof of the Third Police Precinct during a face off with a group of protesters
Getty
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Protesters outside a Minneapolis police precinct two days after George Floyd died
EPA
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Protesters run from tear gas
Reuters
17/30
AP
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Demonstrators gather to protest in Los Angeles
AP
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Police remove barricades set by protesters
AFP via Getty
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Getty
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A fire burns inside of an Auto Zone store near the Third Police Precinct
Getty
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Flowers, signs and balloons are left near a makeshift memorial to George Floyd near the spot where he died
AFP via Getty
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A policeman faces a protester holding a placard in downtown Los Angeles
AFP via Getty
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A couple poses with a sign in Los Angeles
AFP via Getty
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 27: A man is tended to after sustaining an injury from a projectile shot by police outside the 3rd Police Precinct building on May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Four Minneapolis police officers have been fired after a video taken by a bystander was posted on social media showing Floyd’s neck being pinned to the ground by an officer as he repeatedly said, “I cant breathe”. Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Stephen Maturen
Getty
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Getty
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A protester reacts after inhaling tear gas
Getty
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Getty Images
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Protesters use shopping carts as a barricade
Getty Images
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Protesters clash with the police as they demonstrate against the death of George Floyd
AFP via Getty Images
“As we have always said, journalists must be free to do their job and to hold authorities to account without fear of arrest or violence.”
The announcement of the embassy’s involvement came after Labour leader Keir Starmer wrote to the PM urging him to challenge Donald Trump to “respect human rights” following the US president’s incendiary remarks about the Black Lives Matter protests.
In a letter to the prime minister, the Labour leader said there was a “moral obligation” to speak out and the UK must show it was “ready to stand together with those who seek to tackle the injustice and inequality that remains within all our societies”.
Australia’s government has already raised a complaint with the Trump administration after Channel 7 reporter Amelia Brace and her cameraman were knocked over by riot police as they ploughed into crowds at a Washington rally, firing rubber bullets and tear gas.
