Sopan Deb is the name of the CBS News journalist who was thrown down to the ground in Chicago after interviewing Trump supporters and Trump protesters alike. Deb was doing his job for CBS News when all of a sudden — as seen in the attached video — he was thrown down on the ground and had his neck stepped on by a police officer in order to restrain him.
“I have I.D. Press credentials I can show you.”
Sopan identified himself as a CBS News journalist — and after Deb was handcuffed, the video shows a police officer straightening Sopan’s glasses on his face. After being detained, Deb was released.
Sopan was in the midst of the rousing and violent aftermath of the canceled rally on the campus of the University of Illinois-Chicago. It was on Friday, March 11, in Chicago when Donald Trump’s supporters clashed with those who were protesting the Republican presidential candidate’s planned presence. While Trump claimed the rally was canceled due to fears of not wanting anyone to get hurt — that’s exactly what happened when the canceled rally meant supporters and protesters would come in contact with one another.
"Go back to Iraq!" "Taking pictures for ISIS?" CBS reporter @SopanDeb had been singled out at Trump events before... https://t.co/ERADTaWY86
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 12, 2016
Deb was able to record a variety of interviews inside of the pavilion, and outside — on the Chicago streets. Racine Avenue can be seen in the above video, as his video footage eventually provides a view of Deb as he lands on the ground. Prior to being suddenly taken down on the ground, Deb shot footage of an African-American man on the ground with his hands behind his back — handcuffed and bleeding onto the ground.
As reported by CBS News, the tensions after the cancelation of Trump’s Friday night rally were running high. Emotions were on the surface as Sopan captured the feelings of folks on both sides of the melee.
Deb soon enough found himself slammed to the ground — and now social media is exploding with reactions to him being detained. He was accused of resisting arrest, however, the video footage from the CBS News journalist doesn’t show any proof of Sopan resisting arrest.
On Twitter, Deb’s name is bringing myriad reactions as folks online get a chance to view the video of the journalist being arrested.
I've never seen anything like what I'm witnessing in my life.
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) March 12, 2016
On Facebook, Sopan’s arrest is also bringing a strong reaction. Facebook user Lisa Fraleigh shared CBS News‘ video, and commented about Deb’s arrest — noting that Sopan wasn’t the first journalist who recently experienced problems at a Trump rally.
“Another journalist ‘detained’ at a Trump rally. Much like the Time magazine photographer who was roughed up at another Trump rally. How many journalists are we going to feed the trolls before we remember the rest of the First Amendment?”
Facebook user Linda Lopez also shared CBS News’ video, and noted how the police took Deb in custody without perhaps asking the questions they should’ve asked at first to determine that he was a credentialed member of the media.
“Totally an abuse of power. Even journalists are not safe.”
For his part, Deb had tweeted that the canceled Trump rally melee was something he’d never seen before.
“I’ve never seen anything like what I’m witnessing in my life.”
Certain online viewers are noting the darker color of Deb’s skin as a potential factor for his run-in with police.
Report and video of @CBSNews @SopanDeb being arrested while covering Chicago protests last night https://t.co/3g6kdGcjBj
— CBS News PressOffice (@CBSNewsPress) March 12, 2016
Trump experienced more problems in Vandalia, Ohio, near Dayton, on Saturday, March 12. A man jumped a security fence and attempted to approach Trump on stage.
[AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast]