Aggression against press team on John F. Kennedy Avenue: An attack on the right to inform
Journalistic practice in the Dominican Republic was tarnished once again following a violent incident recorded on John F. Kennedy Avenue. A media team carrying out their reporting duties was the victim of hostility, threats, and physical assault while documenting a traffic accident that occurred in the vicinity of Los Jardines del Norte.
The incident involved a Route 11 bus, which collided with a truck and a motorcyclist. Upon arriving at the scene to report the event, journalists Ana Laura López, Joel de la Cruz, and Edwin Cruz were subjected to an attempted violent censorship. According to reports, several people at the scene tried to prevent the coverage through threats against the workers’ integrity and warnings to seize their work equipment.
A camera is not a provocation and a journalist at work is not an enemy. Defending the press is not asking for privileges; it is defending society’s right to be informed about what happens in public spaces.
An urgent call for justice
During the altercation, cameraman Joel de la Cruz was physically assaulted. These types of acts, where groups of people lash out at a worker performing their duties, represent a direct threat to freedom of the press and the public’s right to know the truth about events of public interest.
- Physical violence against communicators cannot be normalized or left to be forgotten.
- Differences or disagreements with journalistic coverage must be managed through the appropriate legal channels, never through aggression.
- It is imperative that the competent authorities conduct a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and apply the sanctions of the law.
From Alofoke Deportes, we strongly condemn any form of violence against press personnel. Impunity in the face of these episodes only encourages the repetition of behaviors that threaten the integrity of those who go out into the streets to seek information. Dominican society must reject the use of force as a method of conflict resolution, especially when the goal is to silence those who hold a camera or a microphone through violence.
