Video Shows Kansas Cops Raid Marion County Record Office
- Video shows officers laughing and making jokes as they seize computers and cellphones.
- Raid sparked by complaint from local businesswoman who was critical of police.
- Publisher of newspaper says raid was an attempt to intimidate him and silence his reporting.
- Calls for investigation into raid grow louder.
Background
On August 11, 2023, officers from the Marion County Police Department raided the offices of the Marion County Record, a small weekly newspaper. The raid was reportedly sparked by a complaint from a local businesswoman who was critical of the police department in an article published by the newspaper.
Video of Raid
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Security footage of the raid has since surfaced and has been widely shared on social media. The video shows officers laughing and making jokes as they seize computers and cellphones from the newspaper office. One officer is seen removing a computer tower from a desk, while another walks away with a different drive.
Publisher Speaks Out
Eric Meyer, the publisher of the Marion County Record, has spoken out against the raid, calling it an attempt to intimidate him and silence his reporting. Meyer said that the police department has been targeting him for months because of his critical coverage of the department.
Calls for Investigation.
Calls for an investigation into the raid have grown louder in the wake of the release of the video. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas has called for an independent investigation into the raid, saying that it raises serious concerns about the First Amendment rights of journalists.
What’s Next?
It remains to be seen what will happen next in the wake of the raid. The Marion County Police Department has not released any information about the raid or the investigation that is reportedly underway. The ACLU of Kansas has said that it will be monitoring the situation closely and will take legal action if necessary.
Quotes from Eric Meyer
- “This was an attempt to intimidate me and silence my reporting,” said Eric Meyer, the publisher of the Marion County Record. “The police department has been targeting me for months because of my critical coverage of the department.”
- “I am not going to be intimidated by this raid,” Meyer said. “I will continue to report on the police department, even if it means they come after me again.”
- “This is a clear violation of the First Amendment,” Meyer said. “The police department has no right to raid a newspaper office and seize journalists’ records.”
Quotes from ACLU of Kansas
- “The video of the raid is deeply troubling,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. “It shows officers laughing and joking as they seize computers and cellphones from a newspaper office. This is a clear violation of the First Amendment.”
- “We are calling for an independent investigation into the raid,” Kubic said. “The police department cannot be allowed to intimidate journalists and silence their reporting.”
- “The First Amendment protects the right of journalists to report on the government without fear of retaliation,” Kubic said. “The police department’s raid on the Marion County Record is a clear violation of that right.”
What You Can Do
If you are concerned about the raid on the Marion County Record Office, there are a few things you can do. First, you can contact your elected representatives and urge them to demand an investigation into the raid. Second, you can sign a petition calling for an investigation. Third, you can donate to the ACLU of Kansas to support their efforts to protect the First Amendment rights of journalists.