New York, February 3, 2026 – Free speech and a free press are the bedrock of American democracy. Over the past year, those liberties have come under threat in ways not seen in generations.
The events of recent weeks – including the arrest of two journalists for covering protests in Minnesota, and the raid on the home of a Washington Post reporter – represent a dangerous escalation. These are not isolated incidents. They are the latest in a sustained pattern of actions that are systematically undermining press freedom and the public’s right to know. Such actions are unacceptable and intolerable.
The board of directors at the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) stands unequivocally in defense of a free and independent press – one that can report the facts and hold power to account without intimidation or interference.
For more than forty years, CPJ has been consistent in its defense of journalists. As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, we stand with journalists whenever they are threatened or placed in peril, anywhere in the world – including in the United States. We hold all political leaders to the same standard. We will not be silenced by pressure, harassment, or efforts to punish journalists and those who support them.
A free press and the factual information journalists provide are essential to democracy, public safety, and social stability. Without them, the public is at greater risk. This role is explicitly recognized and protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Journalists have the right to report the news. Efforts to obstruct, punish, or deter them from doing so violate not only their rights, but the rights of all Americans.
CPJ stands with Don Lemon, Georgia Fort, Hannah Natanson, and all journalists targeted for doing their jobs in the United States. Today we call on leaders across political, civic, and business life—especially those who lead media organizations—to speak out clearly and publicly in defense of press freedom.
This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.
Committee to Protect Journalists | Radio Free (2026-02-03T17:40:27+00:00) CPJ Board: The First Amendment is in peril. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2026/02/03/cpj-board-the-first-amendment-is-in-peril/
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