Alexa Wilkinson, a photographer documenting protests, is no longer facing charges from Manhattan prosecutors after being arrested and accused of a felony hate crime during a demonstration at the New York Times headquarters last summer. Wilkinson’s legal representative, Terra Brockman from the Legal Aid Society, informed Hyperallergic that the case was dismissed on February 24 due to a lack of evidence that could confirm the accusations beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charges, initially filed in September, followed Wilkinson’s coverage of a protest in July where participants splattered red paint on the New York Times building to criticize its Gaza reporting. Wilkinson, who uses they/them pronouns, shared in an email to Hyperallergic that the severe charges almost led to the loss of their job. Additionally, police confiscated Wilkinson’s photography gear, including laptops, hard drives, and cameras, affecting their financial stability.
Wilkinson expressed concerns about their housing security, citing the distress caused to their neighbors and landlord. They remarked, however, that their ordeal is minor compared to the risks faced by Palestinian journalists. The charges included aggravated harassment for social media posts criticizing New York Times staff for perceived pro-Israel bias. According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, the case was dropped after a comprehensive investigation.
A September complaint reviewed by Hyperallergic suggested Wilkinson made a threatening social media post against a Jewish editor, supported by police footage allegedly capturing Wilkinson at the protest. Despite this, Brockman argued that Wilkinson, a respected photojournalist with no criminal history, was unjustly accused of a hate crime merely for documenting the event.
Wilkinson remains dedicated to journalism, expressing their intent to continue as a photojournalist and a certified member of the New York City press. The New York Times has not provided a comment on the matter to Hyperallergic.
