The Police v the Enemies of the People

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie responded this afternoon to frustrations that police arrested and pepper-sprayed a Des Moines Register reporter who was covering a protest yesterday, as well as hitting a photographer with a rubber bullet.

“I think that when we’re in the throes of a riot, sometimes, you know, law enforcement looks at a situation and wants to keep everybody safe,” Cownie said at a press conference with Gov. Kim Reynolds and other state and local leaders outside the Capitol. “As we’re trying to move people away, sometimes it’s hard to separate the press from others when there’s rioting going on, glass being broken, and people’s health and safety at risk.”