Alissa Azar is a member of NWU and an independent journalist whose case was reported in Prism by fellow member Jen Byers. NWU wrote a statement of support that was submitted to the court on Alissa’s behalf, following a similar letter by other media organizations. Today we learned that public pressure won. This is Alissa’s story in her own words.
On May 2nd, 2024, I was arrested while reporting on the ground at Portland State University. I was documenting the police’s actions as they cleared an encampment and library occupation in support of the liberation of Palestine when, later that evening, I was arrested by the Portland Police Bureau while filming the violent arrests occurring in the park in front of the PSU library.
Following my arrest, I faced consistent harassment from the police until I was finally let out of jail early the next morning. This harassment included racist remarks, sexual harassment, misogyny, a cop taking a selfie with me as I was in handcuffs, and the persistent interruption of all my phone calls.
This experience has highlighted the critical importance of press freedom and the rights of journalists to report on public events without fear of arrest or intimidation. The need for transparency and accountability in our institutions grows increasingly urgent. And under a Trump presidency, protecting our First Amendment rights is more important than ever.
My trial was set to begin on January 27th. I was offered a plea deal multiple times, but I refuse to plead guilty to a crime I did not commit. My commitment to uncovering the truth and informing the public remains steadfast, even in the face of these challenges.
As of this morning, after seeing all of the support and the pressure campaign to drop the charges, the DA’s office dismissed the case. The new DA is highly concerned with optics at the moment, and worried about the increased attention, so I genuinely don’t think this would have been possible without all of your support.
I urge our community to continue advocating for our constitutional rights. I appreciate the union’s support during this time and I want to offer my deepest gratitude for standing by my side.
Article originally published on nwu.org. | Photo courtesy of National Writers Union.
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