Above Photo: Yamiche Alcindor (Twitter)
“I want to ask about nuclear weapons,” said Sam Husseini, communications director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, as he was removed from the event.
Note: We applaud Sam Husseini for attempting to force the nuclear weapons issue into the Trump-Putin meeting. Sam, who runs Institute for Public Accuracy, was given press credentials by the Nation, where he publishes opinion columns. It is unlikely Husseini would have been called on so his protest brought more attention to the issue than sitting in the audience hoping to ask a question.
We are pleased Husseini was released. Here is what he said when he was released from detention:
Just got out of detention. I was held for a time by Finnish authorities at Presidential Palace and then manhandled and cuffed on hands and legs to detention facility. They wouldn’t call my family to tell them I was unharmed. Thanks for well wishes from many good folks. More soon. https://t.co/bEke39ZVb4
— Sam Husseini (@samhusseini) July 16, 2018
And, here are some previous tweets from him:
Been rather chaotic. #HelsinkiSummit pic.twitter.com/xb9DH0kbGm
— Sam Husseini (@samhusseini) July 16, 2018
For all the CNN sniping, that’s what’s on the monitors at the White House organized Press Center. It’s called the “International Media Center” but most international media is elsewhere. #helsinkisummit pic.twitter.com/LNXhne3wwb
— Sam Husseini (@samhusseini) July 16, 2018
Once again, we applaud Sam Husseini for the action he took and are pleased he survived the arrest and incarceration and is on his way home. The lame questions asked by the US media at the press conference — all about Russiagate, nothing about nuclear weapons or conflicts around the world — show that Husseini was right to risk arrest by holding a sign on the need to ban nuclear weapons. KZ
A writer working for The Nation was forcibly dragged out of President Trump and Russian President Putin’s joint news conference on Monday.
Reporter from The Nation being escorted by security at the Trump-Putin Helsinki presser because he was holding a sign about nuclear testing. Guards forcibly grabbing him and dragging him from the room pic.twitter.com/55VhxdrcPp
— Melanie Schmitz (@MelsLien) July 16, 2018
Sam Husseini of the Institute of Public Accuracy had a sign that said “nuclear ban” on 8×11 piece of paper. pic.twitter.com/z7vgMJEsy5
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) July 16, 2018
The writer, Sam Husseini, is communications director for the Institute for Public Accuracy and had received press accreditation from The Nation to cover the U.S.–Russia summit in Helsinki. He was holding a sign that said “Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty,” according to Jim Acosta of CNN.
“At a time when this administration consistently denigrates the media, we’re troubled by reports that he was forcibly removed from the press conference before the two leaders began to take questions,” said The Nation in a statement.
Statement from The Nation on @samhusseini being removed from Trump-Putin press conference: pic.twitter.com/Bw5mA51nRI
— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) July 16, 2018
According to CNN, Husseini was initially removed from the event, but was allowed back in to get his belongings. Russian authorities reportedly called his sign a “malicious item,” citing it as a reason for removal.
“You’re grabbing me for what? I am telling you what I am doing. I am being totally open,” Husseini said as he was taken away. He also reportedly said, “I want to ask about nuclear weapons,” before being led out.
The Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty is the first legally binding international agreement to ban nuclear weapons, with the ultimate goal of total elimination. Neither Russia nor the U.S. is a party to the treaty.
The rough handling of a reporter is not too surprising considering this is a joint press conference between a president who regularly calls the media the enemy of the people and a leader known for severely limiting freedom of the press. Russia ranks 148th out of 180 countries in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index.