This Photographer Just Defended the First Amendment for You

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The cauldron of American race relations boiled over again at the University of Missouri where graduate student Jonathan Butler went on a hunger strike to protest the school’s insufficient response to racial incidents on campus. Calls for President Tim Wolfe to step down hit a tipping point when the school’s football team refused to practice or play in a game that would cost the university $1m.

Protesters set up a campsite in Carnahan Quadrangle in the heart of the campus, and established a self-proclaimed “Safe Space” to block media without an explanation of its purpose (Updated: In a since deleted tweet, @CS_1950 stated, “We ask for no media in the parameters so the place where people live, fellowship, & sleep can be protected from twisted insincere narratives”).

Among the throng of reporters that showed up to cover the national media story was student Tim Tai, on assignment for ESPN. What unfolded was a lesson in civics and civil behavior on his part captured by Mark Schierbecker on video:

Despite being shoved, harangued and bullied, Tai reminds protesters of his right as a journalist to cover the event in a public space. He doesn’t raise the spectre of assault charges. He doesn’t push back. He continues to work the scene while reminding people of his right as afforded by the First Amendment.

For a relatively young guy, Tai acts undeniably old school.

He reminds people that State Law allows for equal access to the quad:

I tweeted this out a few days ago but there’s literally a state law on the books affirming right to access quad: https://t.co/vACHgnbBaj

— Tim Tai (@nonorganical) November 10, 2015

He doesn’t want to be a part of the story:

Wow. Didn’t mean to become part of the story. Just trying to do my job. Thanks everyone for the support.

— Tim Tai (@nonorganical) November 10, 2015

He respects the protestors’ rights, and opposes threats against them:

My personal intention has never been to vilify the people in the video and I’m not sure why anyone thought it was OK to send them threats.

— Tim Tai (@nonorganical) November 10, 2015

He reiterates that the story is about systemic racism, not him:

I’m a little perturbed at being part of the story, so maybe let’s focus some more reporting on systemic racism in higher ed institutions.

— Tim Tai (@nonorganical) November 10, 2015

And he gets the shots that tell the story:

http://espn.go.com/college-football/photos/gallery/_/id/14091412/image/2/university-missouri-protests-reaction

The day after Mark’s video went viral, the protest group #ConcernedStudent1950 posted the following in the Quad.

#ConcernedStudent1950 Protestors have taken down the anti-media signs and are handing out a PSA welcoming media. pic.twitter.com/jAqgDAzqGk

— Mark Kim (@MarkJKim_) November 10, 2015

Tai is rightfully being heralded in the press (here, here, here) for acting the way we would hope any journalist would in a similar situation. But to Tai’s own point, a discussion of his First Amendment rights is a distraction from the real story of systemic racism. Nevertheless, the virality of the video that captured his professionalism literally changed the protesters position overnight.

Progress.