On July 3, 2025, independent journalist Matthew Reardon was violently assaulted by a Mississippi State Trooper while exercising his First Amendment rights to peacefully protest outside the Governor’s Mansion in Jackson, Mississippi. Reardon was peacefully filming on a public sidewalk, documenting a public building and voicing concerns about ongoing government corruption and abuse of power. Without warning or lawful justification, a uniformed trooper aggressively approached, assaulted him and his equipment, all while the camera was rolling and in the presence of the trooper’s supervisor and two other Mississippi State Troopers. The trooper’s name and badge number has been concealed since that incident. The state has moved to cover it up in a outrageous attempt to dodge accountability and shield the truth.

This was not just an attack on one man — it was an attack on the free press, public accountability, and every citizen’s right to document government officials in public. The trooper’s face and actions are visible in publicly available video footage, but to date, no official identification, disciplinary action, or criminal prosecution has been announced.

We, the undersigned, demand:

1. Immediate public identification of the trooper involved. 
2. A full investigation by an independent agency — not handled internally. 
   
   
3. Criminal charges against the officer for assault and civil rights violations. 
   
   
4. A public statement from Governor Tate Reeves and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety acknowledging the incident and condemning the use of force against journalists.

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press. No journalist — citizen or professional — should be shoved, silenced, or assaulted for holding a camera and speaking truth to power.

This petition stands for press freedom, transparency, and equal justice. Sign now to demand accountability and justice.