Early day motion · EDM 11 · 14 Oct 2019

Protection of journalists and elected representatives from violence

Tabled by Clive Lewis (Labour) 30 signatures

The motion

That this House is appalled by footage obtained by the New York Times purporting to show a video depicting a macabre scene of a fake President Trump shooting, stabbing and brutally assaulting members of the news media and his political opponents was broadcast at a rally of Trump supporters in Miami; believes that acts of incitement of violence towards either journalists or public representatives have absolutely no place in a democratic society; condemns the use of highly-charged language by the print media, accusing public figures of being traitors or enemies of the people; recalls with profound sadness the murder of our colleague Jo Cox, and thanks the authorities for apprehending those who made threats to the life of Rosie Cooper; condemns the assaults inflicted against journalists for doing their jobs; notes that the National Union of Journalists has reported an alarming spate of recent incidents of intimidation, threats and violence carried out by far-right protesters systematically targeting the media, especially photojournalists; and calls on the Government and police authorities to introduce heightened measures to protect journalists and elected representatives at this time of heightened political division.

Source: the official Early Day Motions database.