Canadian journalist arrested in New York City for covering riots, still detained

Canadian reporter Anna Slatz has been arrested and jailed in New York City after covering the protests over the death of George Floyd that turned violent last night.

Slatz told Rebel News' Ezra Levant that police arrested her for breaking the curfew set in place to curve rioting, despite there existing a clear exception for journalists. Slatz is being held at the Brooklyn central booking station.

In a video published on Wednesday morning by Rebel News, Levant explained that a New York-based lawyer was already looking into the matter, saying that Slatz had not yet been released as of Wednesday morning.

Levant initially explained that due to quarantine laws and a limited number of flights from Canada to New York, Canadian photographer Yanky Pollak was tasked with travelling to the Empire State to be present on Levant's behalf. He would later upload a video showing he was en route to the airport to be present in New York.

In a statement to The Post Millennial, Levant said: "[Anna Slatz] called me very briefly to tell me her whereabouts, and then her phone was taken away. We've been trying to get her out of jail ever since, but the combination of the mass arrests from the riots, and the pandemic, have made New York courts slow down to a standstill."

"We have two lawyers in Canada and three lawyers in New York working on the matter, and the Canadian consulate in New York City has also been helpful."

"We also have a lawyer standing by at the court to greet her, should she be released before her arraignment."

A legal fund for Slatz has been launched, having raised in excess of $6,200 CAD. Levant said that the funding would cover lawyer fees for Slatz, and that any remaining cash would be given to Slatz as a form of "moral compensation."

Pollak confirmed to The Post Millennial that, as of 2:30 pm, Slatz was still in detention.