On March 16, Representatives Cheri Bustos (IL-17) and Ashley Hinson (IA-01), both former journalists, introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring the journalists, reporters, and documentarians risking their safety and sacrificing their lives to document the atrocities happening in Ukraine.
Despite the danger, journalists and news staff are putting their life on the line on a daily basis to reveal the ongoing humanitarian crisis to the world.
Dozens of members of the free press have been injured or killed by Russian forces including multiple Americans. Earlier this week,American documentarian and director Brent Renaud was fatally shot and journalist Juan Arrendondo was shot and seriously injured. Fox News staff Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra Kuvshynova were also killed this week.
“There is nothing dictators like Putin fear more than the free press revealing the truth to the world. Most of what we are seeing and hearing from Ukraine is thanks to brave journalists who are putting themselves in harm’s way to tell this important story. I’m proud to work with Congresswoman Bustos to ensure members of the media who are reporting from Ukraine, including those who tragically lost their lives, receive the recognition they deserve.” -Congresswoman Ashley Hinson
“Brent Renaud. Pierre Zakrzewski. Oleksandra Kuvshynova. These names have been carved into the history books as defenders of democracy. An open and free press is one of the world’s most effective weapons in the fight against tyranny, and the courageous journalists and media who have chosen and continue to choose freedom over their own safety deserve our deepest gratitude and respect. As a former reporter, I honor their work, and as a citizen a democratic nation, I thank them for their sacrifice.” -Congresswoman Cheri Bustos
The bipartisan resolution:
- expresses gratitude on behalf of the people of the United States to the journalists and news staff who are risking injury and death, are subject to grave threat, and have sacrificed their lives to chronicle and report on the ongoing war in Ukraine resulting from Putin’s invasion;
- remembers the journalists and news staff who have lost their lives or been injured reporting from Ukraine;
- and condemns Russian President Putin, Belarussian President Lukashenko, and their officials for authorizing and executing attacks on innocent civilians
