IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 999 

Recognizing the threats to press freedom in the United States in the wake 

of protests following the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black 

man, by police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, 

and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States 

in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 11, 2020 

Ms. SCANLON (for herself, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. NORTON, Mr. VARGAS, Mrs. 

HAYES, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. RUSH, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. COOPER, Mr. 

WELCH, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. NEGUSE, Mr. CICILLINE, 

Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. SAN NICOLAS, Ms. HOULAHAN, and Ms. ESHOO) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the threats to press freedom in the United 

States in the wake of protests following the killing of 

George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, reaffirming the centrality 

of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority 

of the United States in promoting democracy, human 

rights, and good governance. 

Whereas the essential role of the independent press and journalists in a free and democratic society has been recogVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:19 Jun 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR999.IH HR999

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nized since the colonial period of the United States and 

is enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution; 

Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution proclaims: 

‘‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment 

of religion, or preventing the free exercise thereof; or 

abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the 

right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition 

the government for a redress of grievances.’’; 

Whereas Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted at Paris, December 10, 

1948, states, ‘‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold 

opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.’’; 

Whereas the United States has made promotion of press freedom worldwide a core part of its human rights and democracy promotion efforts; 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has accelerated the decline 

of local news, documented by PEN America in the report 

Losing the News, shuttering critical information resources, particularly for rural populations and 

marginalized communities; 

Whereas journalists have a long established and recognized 

right to report, and actions by law enforcement or other 

authorities that prevent them from doing so through intimidation, violence, arrest, or detention is an affront to 

the First Amendment; 

Whereas the United States has experienced mass protests in 

cities and communities around the Nation following the 


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killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis on May 

25, 2020; 

Whereas Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to 

Protect Journalists, wrote that ‘‘Covering protests and 

demonstrations is vital, both in order to inform the public 

about the demands of the protesters and also to hold officials accountable’’; 

Whereas, as of June 4, 2020, the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a nonpartisan website managed by the Freedom of the 

Press Foundation, has received reports of more than 300 

reports of press freedom violations committed against 

journalists covering the demonstrations nationwide; 

Whereas these cases include instances of journalists and 

media workers being specifically targeted by law enforcement with tear gas, pepper spray or pepper balls, or rubber bullets despite displaying press credentials and identifying themselves as members of the press; 

Whereas, on May 29, 2020, police in Minneapolis shot a rubber bullet at the face of a freelance writer and photographer, permanently blinding her in one eye; 

Whereas, on May 30, 2020, Minneapolis police fired tear gas, 

pepper spray, and concussion grenades directly at multiple journalists and photographers; 

Whereas, on May 31, 2020, Seattle police fired projectiles directly at an MSNBC reporter and camera crew; 

Whereas, on May 31, 2020, a KPCC/LAist reporter was shot 

in the throat with a rubber bullet by Long Beach police; 

Whereas, on June 1, 2020, an Australian reporter and camera operator were struck by Federal law enforcement as 

they covered a demonstration outside the White House in 


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Washington, DC, leading to a formal request by the Australian Ambassador for a police investigation; 

Whereas the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has identified more 

than 49 instances of journalists and media workers being 

arrested at protests as of June 4, 2020; 

Whereas, on May 29, 2020, CNN reporter Omar Jiminez, an 

African-American and Latino journalist, was arrested in 

Minneapolis while reporting on camera, despite displaying 

his press credentials and offering to comply with police 

directives; 

Whereas, on May 29, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada, two 

photojournalists were arrested while working and charged 

with the misdemeanor of ‘‘failure to disperse’’, before 

being released a day later; 

Whereas, on May 31, 2020, an NPR affiliate reporter, a 

Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, and a Wilmington NewsJournal reporter were arrested despite having identified 

themselves as press; 

Whereas some cities and States have imposed curfews in a 

bid to contain the demonstrations, some of which have 

turned violent, but not all of the curfew orders have explicitly exempted members of the press; 

Whereas journalists have a vital role to play in documenting 

and reporting on the protests and must be able to freely 

cover these events without fear of retaliation from authorities; and 

Whereas freedom of the press— 

(1) is a key component of democratic governance, 

activism in civil society, and socioeconomic development; 

and 


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(2) enhances public accountability, transparency, 

and participation in civil society and democratic governance: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the First Amendment3 protected right of journalists to report on events in 

4 the public interest, including protests and dem5 onstrations against police brutality; 

6 (2) believes journalists perform an essential role 

7 in safeguarding democratic values by keeping the 

8 public informed about issues of national and local 

9 concern and ensuring transparency and account10 ability; 

11 (3) calls on State, local, and Federal law en12 forcement to protect the freedom of the press and 

13 refrain from targeting journalists and media work14 ers; 

15 (4) calls on government entities to clarify that 

16 credentialed press are exempt from curfews enacted 

17 in response to protests and public demonstrations; 

18 (5) stresses the need for accountability where 

19 law enforcement entities or protesters violate the 

20 Constitution, laws, or regulations in their treatment 

21 of journalists and media crews during protests; and 

22 (6) reaffirms the centrality of freedom of the 

23 press in the United States and around the world to 


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1 support democracy, expose corruption, and promote 

2 good governance. 

Æ 


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