Across the United States, jurisdictions are increasingly banning personal protective equipment at public protests — a trend that directly endangers journalists. As the Freedom of the Press Foundation reported, reporters covering demonstrations have been shot with crowd-control munitions, sprayed with tear gas, hit by cars, and physically attacked by both law enforcement and protesters. Organizations like Reporters Without Borders offer grants for PPE such as helmets, goggles, and gas masks. Yet officials in multiple cities are now prohibiting this gear, often citing public safety concerns such as the anonymity provided by masks. The bans effectively force journalists to choose between their physical safety and their ability to cover newsworthy events — undermining the public’s right to know what happens when citizens take to the streets.
Banning Safety Gear for Journalists: A Threat to Press Freedom
