A Florida Democratic state senator called in the police to handle a reporter who made “threats” against her at a debate.
Miami Herald reporter Sarah Blaskey declared that the only thing she was guilty of committing was “an act of journalism” after she questioned Florida state Sen. Daphne Campbell following a public candidates forum at a Duffy’s in North Miami Beach.
Sen. Daphne Campbell and candidate Jason Pizzo face off over their stances on charter schools in one of the only Q&A forums they have both attended during this race for FL Senate District 38. @daphnecampbell pic.twitter.com/yNH8VGTaJc
— Sarah Blaskey (@Blaskey_S) August 9, 2018
According to the Miami Herald:
Campbell, a Democrat who is running for reelection this month in Senate District 38, called police at 1:24 p.m. after participating in a debate with her Democratic opponent, Jason Pizzo. A responding North Miami Beach officer who declined to give his name explained that police had been called by Campbell about threats made by a woman in a floral dress — a clear reference to the attire of Herald reporter Sarah Blaskey.
Police left without arresting anyone. But their appearance flustered attendees and the Social Citizens of Southeast Florida, which hosted the event in order to allow members to query the candidates on the issues.
“I did not see anything go wrong. I was there,” the group’s president, Dennis Stubbolo, told the Miami Herald. “I don’t know where that came from.”
Update: @daphnecampbell called the police on me for “threatening behavior” at this event. Last time I checked, asking questions at a public forum was allowed. Don’t worry guys, cops didn’t think the complaint was credible.
— Sarah Blaskey (@Blaskey_S) August 9, 2018
What happened today, as reported by @NewsbySmiley https://t.co/Gv8Sy5VI6a
— Sarah Blaskey (@Blaskey_S) August 9, 2018
But the move wasn’t so unusual for the Democrat, apparently.
NEW: Miami State Sen. Daphne Cambell called the cops on @MiamiHerald‘s @Blaskey_S at a debate today — but according to police reports, this is actually the second reporter Campbell has sicced the cops on in 2018: https://t.co/XZxCTEJsL6
— Jerry Iannelli (@jerryiannelli) August 9, 2018
Campbell had called police on Rise News publisher Rich Robinson in May outside a Miami Shores Village Council meeting, according to the publication which posted the police report on its website.
The Miami Herald reported:
A police report posted to the publication’s website states that Campbell explained to an officer that she recognized Robinson as the RISE reporter who documented text messages she sent to a Florida Power & Light lobbyist after Hurricane Irma in order to get the power turned on at her home for her “sick mom.” (Campbell’s real mother died in 1996.)
Robinson filmed Campbell walking to her car after the public meeting in order to get video footage on file. Campbell took issue with the reporter doing his job and called police who declined to arrest Robinson.
It seems the Democratic candidate has a bit of a history with members of the press
Police records show that, after @RiseNewsNow reporter Rich Robinson nailed Campbell for trying to curry favor from a power-company lobbyist after Hurricane Irma, Campbell called the cops on Robinson for filming her outside a local town council meeting https://t.co/XZxCTEJsL6
— Jerry Iannelli (@jerryiannelli) August 9, 2018
Also never ever forget the time she tried to duck my phone call by claiming that her name was “Rose” and that she did not know anyone named Daphne Campbell https://t.co/KeKhGpQaIS
— Jerry Iannelli (@jerryiannelli) August 9, 2018
“State Senator Daphne Campbell called the police on me for committing an act of journalism,” Robinson said.
Florida Senator Knew I Was A Journalist Doing My Job. She Called The Police Anyway #CommittingAnActOfJournalism@Blaskey_S @RTDNA @SPJFla @pressfreedom @BillyCorben https://t.co/o75UNpiHB5
— Rich Robinson (@RichRobMiami) August 9, 2018
The Miami Herald expects its reporters to ask public officials questions, Managing Editor Rick Hirsch said.
“Asking a public official questions in a public place is perfectly appropriate,” he said.
Blaskey later tweeted that she would not be backing down from doing her job.
Yesterday, I committed an act of journalism. Today, tomorrow, and everyday, I plan to do it again. Consider it premeditated. #FirstAmendment #JournalismIsNotACrime
— Sarah Blaskey (@Blaskey_S) August 10, 2018
“Today, tomorrow, and everyday, I plan to do it again,” Blaskey wrote. “Consider it premeditated.”
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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