Black Zebra Productions crew attacked by federal agents in Portland protest, video shows
Members of Black Zebra Productions faced violence from federal agents in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday night while covering the protests, a video shows.
Johnny Lynch, a videographer with the Sacramento-based group, was seen being struck multiple times and pulled to the ground as a firework exploded. Lynch was dragged into a cloud of tear gas that had already been thrown before being pulled to his feet and running away.
A fellow Black Zebra crew member, Khanstoshea Zingapan, screamed “he’s press” at the troops repeatedly.
The video of the encounter, both from Zingapan’s and Lynch’s cameras, has been posted to the Black Zebra Facebook page. Zingapan, Lynch and Rach Wilde, a Black Zebra Impact photographer, were wearing press badges and holding cameras.
Wilde was pushed and fell into a tree. After getting up, she ran toward a crowd away from federal agents.
Black Zebra Productions, started in 2016 by Zingapan, has been covering protests across the nation and believed that protests in Portland needed more coverage.
“We’ve been having a group of creative volunteers in the film industry going to different places and just documenting community truths, just documenting the actual things that are happening on the ground for people to see for themselves,” Zingapan said. “That is exactly what we are doing out here in Oregon.”
After spending four days covering protests without protection, Zingapan and Wilde were able to get gas masks and protective equipment just before Lynch joined them Tuesday.
“Yesterday was the first time I was able to secure a gas mask and protective equipment and thank God we did because our team was severely beaten and thrown in tear gas,” Zingapan said.
During the protest, the team was staying with other media members when agents suddenly came upon them and yelled “move” before striking them. Lynch believes that the agents targeted the press, as the group had badges displayed and were holding cameras.
When agents came upon Lynch, the video displays that the first blow of the baton is to the camera Lynch is holding.
“Aside from a press pass, that may or may not work, there is no protection for any kind of individual to get out there and cover this kind of thing,” Lynch said. “That relates to why press has stopped showing up and indicative of where this is all going. The larger strategy is to silence these kinds of groups and movements and people.”
All three crew members made their way to Salmon Street, where they regrouped and banded together during their continued coverage. Black Zebra Productions covered the protest until about 2 a.m.
Despite bruises, abrasions and nausea to due days of tear gas and injuries, the crew plans to continue covering the protests.
Sacramento Mayor Darrrell Steinberg signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf stating they did not want federal agents in their cities, citing the actions taken in Portland. Steinberg, one of 15 mayors to sign the letter, is backed by the Sacramento City Council, which plans to send a similar letter to the federal government.
This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 1:25 PM.