WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists joined the Asociacion de Periodistas de Puerto Rico in expressing its disagreement with a recent decision of the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico. On Nov. 30, the court denied a request by 10 journalists to dismiss trespassing charges against them for entering a naval base on the island of Vieques last June while covering a protest against the U.S. Navy.
"We believe that the court could have exercised more discretion in this case," said NAHJ President Cecilia Alvear. "An open society demands that journalists be given access to the scene of important events and this decision will have a chilling effect on the coverage of a vital issue."
The journalists argued they were covering a protest when they entered Camp Garcia Naval Installation on Vieques. The U.S. Navy has used Vieques to stage war games for the past 40 years. Vieques is a municipality of Puerto Rico.
The NAHJ urges the federal government to reconsider its decision to criminally prosecute the journalists. Last August, the NAHJ sent a letter to the governor of Puerto Rico protesting the arrests.
