Puerto Rican Journalists Hold Press Conference to
Denounce Attacks Against the Press in Puerto
Rico by FBI Agents
Contact: Oscar
J. Serrano, Puerto Rico
Journalists Association
(787) 505-5429
(cell)
Daniela Montalvo, Communications Coordinator, National Association of
Hispanic Journalists
(202) 662-7152
What: Journalists from
Puerto Rico and journalism
organizations on the island hold a press
conference
to denounce attacks against the press by FBI
agents.
When: Monday, March 27, 2006, 10 a.m.
Where: Murrow Room, National Press Club, located
at 529 14th
St. NW, 13th Floor in
Washington, D.C.
Speakers:
Oscar J.
Serrano, President,
Puerto Rico Journalists Association, and reporter for Primera Hora newspaper in
San
Juan
Normando
Valentín, Anchor,
Televicentro, Channel 4, San Juan, one of the
victims of the attack
The journalists will
be representing the Puerto Rico Journalists Association, the Overseas Press Club
of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Photojournalists Association and the Center for
the Freedom of the Press in Puerto
Rico. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists,
based in Washington, D.C., will be at the
press conference.
Background
Last month, the FBI
conducted raids in Puerto
Rico in an effort to thwart what it called an alleged
"domestic terrorist attack" planned by an island pro-independence group. During
the raid, FBI agents showered Puerto Rican journalists covering the operations
with pepper spray, shoved them and beat them, in some cases, while they were on
the ground. Reporters and media organizations have condemned the actions of the
FBI as abusive and a press freedom violation.
Several journalists
and media organizations taking part in the press conference will be testifying
before a March 28 congressional briefing on Capitol Hill, hosted by Rep. John
Conyers (D-Mich.), on the alleged abuses by the FBI in Puerto Rico.
Five of the
journalists affected filed complaints with the Puerto Rico Justice Department,
which opened an investigation of the incident. A video of the alleged attacks by
federal agents, which aired on a TV station in Puerto Rico, will be shown at the press
conference and copies will be distributed.
The ACLU is offering
legal assistance to the journalists and will have representatives at the
congressional briefing. In addition to the journalists, others offering
statements about the issue to the congresspersons include Puerto Rico Justice
Secretary Roberto Sánchez Ramos, a representative of the Puerto Rico Governor
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, and Puerto Rico Bar Association President Julio
Fontanet.