University of Missouri Protesters Harass Photojournalists

Apparently the protesters’ success at forcing University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe to resign on Monday has already gone to their heads.

Students went from making demands on the University of Missouri, where they pay tuition, to telling press photographers they may not take pictures in public spaces.

Robert Cohen is a photojournalist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Cohen was at Mizzou on Monday to cover the resignation and the events that followed. However, he quickly encountered student protesters who tried to tell him he was not allowed to take pictures despite the fact that he was outside and in a public space. He tweeted about the press harassment.

.@Mizzou students want to control message, extreme attempts to block media. Home of renowned journalism school. pic.twitter.com/vei5LY7ksN

— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) November 9, 2015

Cohen noted the irony:

A few more from @Mizzou, home of a renowned journalism school. Told no permission for pictures…in public. pic.twitter.com/ew6JxbJCXF

— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) November 9, 2015

When asked what might have prompted students to try and control the media in a public space, Cohen said he had no idea:

@keschaberg I do not. Frankly it was borderline impossible to tell their story if we cannot see their leaders.

— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) November 9, 2015

David Carson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, joined in with a word about constitutional rights:

Protesters have constitutional right to protest express their voice, likewise media have constitutional right to cover story in public space

— David Carson (@PDPJ) November 9, 2015

Everyone should respect everyone else's constitutional rights. Picking & choosing which constitutional rights honored where trouble starts

— David Carson (@PDPJ) November 9, 2015