United States: Trump Supporters Physically Assault Sky News’ Sophie Alexander
The Coalition For Women In Journalism urges US Republican politicians to condemn the behavior of Trump supporters toward the reporter
Location: United States, Florida
Date: June 14, 2023
Sky News’ Sophie Alexander was booed, grabbed by the arm, and told to "get out you stupid b****" by Trump supporters after asking the former president a question. Trump’s rhetoric on journalists has created a toxic and dangerous environment, especially for women and LGBTQI journalists. The attack on Alexander follows a long string of online and in-person harassment, intimidation, and assault on reporters covering Trump-related topics. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the supporters' behavior and calls on US politicians to stop inciting hatred by insulting and discrediting journalists. We urge authorities to conduct an investigation into the harassment in order to ensure journalists' safety island ability to report.
On June 14, Sophie Alexander, an international affairs producer for Sky News, was thrown out of Miami's Versailles restaurant and bakery after asking former US President Donald Trump if he was "ready to go to jail."
Trump visited the Cuban eatery following his arrest and arraignment on a 37-count indictment in the classified documents case.
“I asked again and was met with a furious crowd booing and shouting 'get her out',” wrote Alexander about the incident.
“I tried to step down from the chair I was standing on and a man grabbed my arm before another told him not to touch me. As I was leaving the cafe another yelled ‘stupid b****’ in my face,” she added.
She shared a video of the abuse on Twitter.
“Enemies of the people”
Trump has long attacked the media, labeling reporters "fake news" and "enemies of the people".
His inflammatory rhetoric against the press has resulted in an increase in legal and physical harassment of journalists, according to a study by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
CFWIJ has repeatedly documented harassment and intimidation by Trump supporters toward women journalists.
During the January 6, 2021 insurrection on Capitol Hill CBC’s Katie Nicholson was swarmed by a mob of hostile Trump supporters while reporting live on the streets of Washington D.C. In November 2020, journalist Beth Nakamura was harassed by a group of men while covering a pro-Trump rally in Oregon State Capitol. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, New York Times reporter Kathy Gray was kicked out of a Trump rally in Michigan after posting on social media about the lack of masks among attendees.
Trump supporters' treatment of journalists, particularly women, and journalists of color, has been deplorable. The audacity with which they frequently insult and denigrate members of the press is seemingly encouraged by the former President who regularly dismisses and discredits journalists and news organizations.
Trump's attacks on the press also embolden autocratic foreign leaders to discredit and restrict the press in their own countries.
Over the last few months, CFWIJ has documented several cases of right-wing politicians insulting or attempting to discredit women journalists.
In May, many journalists were denied accreditation for the American Conservative Union’s event, CPAC, in Hungary. Flora Garamvölgyi, a correspondent for The Guardian was thrown out of the event, with organizers claiming she should not have received access in the first place.
In Bulgaria, pro-Russian, anti-EU party Revival has repeatedly insulted, attempted to discredit, and deemed journalists foreign agents. In April, Flora Stratieva, a journalist with state television was ridiculed at a Revival press conference, and forced to leave the event.
In February, Deutsche Welle’s Emilia Milcheva was verbally attacked by Revival. They labeled her a “provocateur” and “sniff” after an article she wrote on the party’s campaigners.
Insults and discrediting of journalists by politicians can have serious impacts on freedom of the press and democracy. When politicians undermine the credibility of journalists, it can lead to a lack of trust in the media and a decrease in public support. This can result in a lack of public accountability for politicians and government officials. Attacks on journalists can also lead to harassment, violence, and even imprisonment of reporters.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on US Republican politicians to condemn the behavior of Trump supporters toward Sophie Alexander. We urge all political actors to refrain from targeting journalists with inflammatory rhetoric.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.
