Participated with the Iowa Freedom of Information Council and 166 other media organizations, outlets, and individuals in a letter to the county attorney of Polk County, Iowa, in the pending criminal case State of Iowa v. Andrea M. Sahouri. Ms. Sahouri is a reporter for the Des Moines Register who was covering a local protest on May 31. She was pepper-sprayed in the face by a police officer while she was moving away from the demonstration in response to officers’ orders to disperse. She was charged with interfering with the officers’ actions, even though she was moving as directed. The letter notes that Ms. Sahouri had a right to be there, was doing her constitutionally protected job, and complied with police orders. The letter asks the county attorney to immediately dismiss with prejudice the criminal charges against Ms. Sahouri. [2020]
