Pres. Obama: ‘Police Should Not be Bullying or Arresting Journalists’

By Merrill Knox 

In a press conference from Martha’s Vineyard this afternoon, President Obama commented on the situation on Iraq and delivered his first public remarks on the escalation of violence in Ferguson, where an unarmed black teenager was fatally shot by police Saturday.

The President addressed the media’s role in Ferguson, which has which has been in the headlines today after two reporters were arrested and an Al Jazeera America crew was tear gassed last night. “Here in the United States of America, police should not be bullying or arresting journalists who are just trying to do their jobs and report to the American people on what they see on the ground,” Obama said.

NBC’s Lester Holt anchored a special report from New York with Kristen Welker on Martha’s Vineyard and Ron Allen reporting from Ferguson. Scott Pelley anchored a CBS special report, with Major Garrett reporting from Martha’s Vineyard. On ABC, David Muir anchored with Martha Raddatz in Washington, Jonathan Karl in Martha’s Vineyard and Steve Osunsami in Ferguson.

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MSNBC, Fox News, CNN and Al Jazeera America all took the statement live.

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