Statement from NC Justice Center Executive Director Rick Glazier and NC Policy Watch Director Chris Fitzsimon on arrest of NC Policy Watch reporter during special session

RALEIGH (December 15, 2016) — Joe Killian, one of our credentialed NC Policy Watch reporters, was arrested this evening while doing his job covering a large protest in the gallery of the House of Representatives.

He was not protesting. He was simply covering the incident and was arrested when he refused to stop covering the news.

We respect the House of Representatives as an institution and the Speaker’s authority, as well as that of security for the General Assembly.

We believe in the end the judicial process will resolve this issue and find our reporter was simply exercising his right to cover the news as it was unfolding in front of him.