Protection of journalists and elected representatives from violence

Motion Text

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.