Journalists must be protected from attacks

Journalists must be protected from attacks

Journalists must be protected from violent attacks from groups like the English Defence League (EDL), unions have said. Delegates to TUC's annual congress, held this month in London, supported an emergency motion presented by National Union of Journalists (NUJ) executive member Anita Halpin, who explained how journalists going about their jobs had been abused and assaulted by members of the far-right organisation. One journalist was sexually assaulted while covering a 3 September EDL event in London, and another had lighter fuel poured over him and was set alight, suffering minor injuries. 'We don't want to have to add a British journalist's death to the already too long list of colleagues abroad,' she said. She added that NUJ activists had been targeted by fascist website Redwatch and called for pressure on the police 'to prosecute those who attacked our members.' RMT general secretary Bob Crow said transport workers had refused to carry EDL members across the city on the day of the planned rally. 'Our members felt threatened and we warned that members would walk out without a ballot if instructed to carry EDL members on public transport. We won't go to work if these people are there. And we won't even use a ballot and we ask you to support us,' he said.

Morning Star.