A news photographer accused staffers for Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of obstructing his coverage of one of her public town hall events.
In a Twitter thread, Stefan Jeremiah said he was on assignment for the New York Post when he was initially barred from entry. Jeremiah said he was was told they only had room for him as a constituent, but not as a member of press. Therefore, he said, he would not be allowed to take photos or otherwise act as a journalist.
Jeremiah said he insisted he had a right to be there, and while staffers did not try to throw him out, one of them stood in front of him to block his camera.
Wait. They have room for me as a constituent, but I’d still not be allowed to take photos or participate in press activity
— Stefan Jeremiah (@Stefan_Jeremiah) August 29, 2019
1. as I worked my angles around the room I stood all the way stage left and some @aoc dude in a checked shirt made a point of standing in front of me. Then told me not to go any further when I move further into the corner to shoot around him.
— Stefan Jeremiah (@Stefan_Jeremiah) August 30, 2019
When he asked the man to move, Jeremiah said he replied, “No,” and, “Exasperated I told him to f–k off. He then tried to set security on me for being hostile. I said he’s antagonising me. And it was left at that.”
Jeremiah said he again spoke with the first staffer and she apologized and “made it clear I was welcome to be there.”
Final word: I spoke with the original @AOC media person and apologised if I’d put her in an awkward position. As I know she’s only the messenger, but that i was within my rights to be here. She apologised and made it clear I was welcome to be there.
— Stefan Jeremiah (@Stefan_Jeremiah) August 30, 2019
According to Jeremiah’s Linkedin profile, he is also a freelance photographer for the New York Daily News and REX Features.
Requests for comment from Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign spokesman and the New York Post were not returned in time for publication.
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