Organizations representing journalists in New York City have announced the formation of the Coalition for the First Amendment to monitor relations between the NYPD and the press.

In a joint statement, the groups declared:

“When New York City police evicted "Occupy Wall Street" protesters from Zuccotti Park in the early hours of Tuesday, November 15th, more than 20 journalists were arrested and several were injured. In what appeared to be a planned maneuver, police officers forced reporters and photographers so far away from Zuccotti Park that they could not see what was happening. They roughed up people who were trying to fulfill their duty to report the news.

“We have formed this coalition to monitor police actions. What the police did on November 15th to suppress coverage of their activities was intolerable. We are determined to use any means needed to fight such censorship in the future. In the city in which John Peter Zenger fought for and helped establish freedom of the press, we can do no less.”

Organizations that have joined the Coalition for the First Amendment include:

Deadline Club & Foundation
New York City Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists

National Press Photographers Association

Newspaper Guild of New York

News Media Guild

New York Press Club & Foundation

Newswomen's Club of New York

New York Press Photographers Association

Reporters Without Borders

Society of Silurians