A Letter from Union Leadership to Oakland Police Department Concerning Detainment of KPIX-5 Reporter
05 June 2020
From Katie Nielsen's Instagram
The following was sent to the Oakland Police Department on June 4, 2020:
Dear Officer Watson:
We are writing to express our concern that Katie Nielsen, a SAG-AFTRA member and reporter with KPIX-5 was detained by Oakland Police Department while doing her job reporting on demonstrations in Oakland on Monday 1 June. While Katie’s detainment was brief and we understand that Oakland Police Department has apologized, we note that Katie was handcuffed and detained after clearly identifying herself as a reporter with KPIX-5 as evidenced by the video footage of her detainment.
As unions representing broadcast journalists and other media professionals, we are committed to advocating for a free and unencumbered press and the safety of our members as they report on this incredibly challenging time for our local communities and the nation. We alert you to SAG-AFTRA’s previous statement on these matters: https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-statement-rights-free-and-unencumbered-press-0
We value the leadership role that Oakland Police Department has played in our bi-annual Bay Area safety summits. It has led to positive and impactful changes, and facilitated productive and essential communications between industry unions, local media and our local police departments. We affirm our joint commitment to the bi-annual safety summit and working with our local police departments to promote the safety and security of our members working in the field.
We would like to discuss this issue and in particular we seek to understand what steps Oakland Police Department has in place to ensure that our members will not be subject to these actions during the ongoing protests and while doing their jobs in the future.
Please feel free to contact me on 510-943-7057 or by return email to arrange a time to discuss.
Carolyn Dunbar – SAG-AFTRA San Francisco/Northern California
Elaine Ocasio/Jen Mistrot – IBEW Local 45
Rebecca Rhine – IATSE Local 600
Carrie Biggs-Adams – NABET Local 51
Carolyn Dunbar | Assistant Executive Director, San Francisco Northern California
350 Sansome Street, Suite 840 | San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone 415.874.4962 |Cell 510.943.7057 carolyn.dunbar@sagaftra.org
www.sagaftra.org
[ more news » ]