Taisha Henry, Ugonma Ubani-Ebere and their Professor Ybonne Latty – all three of whom are African American – attended a Marco Rubio rally Sunday in Bedford New Hampshire.
The three women had been in New Hampshire since Friday as part of a student/faculty group reporting on the primary for a class project.
As they began to film the event, they immediately attracted the attention of Rubio’s campaign staff.
Instantly upon setting up their cameras, Henry and Uban-Ebere were told by a staffer that they could not film because they did not have the proper press credentials.
1) there were only 3 blacks including me and #nyu_journalism students among hundreds of white people at #Rubio townhall. Hassles began fast.
— yvonnelatty (@yvonnelatty) February 7, 2016
Even though they had already put their equipment away, they continued to attract the attention of Rubio’s staff.
“[T]hen they were stared at and then they were approached again and it created this really tense atmosphere,” Meanwhile, “another student in my class who is a white male had his camera on a tripod on a riser without a press pass.”
The incident left the two students shaken and, eventually, in tears. “It was a really horrible experience. Really horrible,” Latty said. “To be singled out that way while you are standing next to your white classmates. Repeatedly. They weren’t even doing anything.”
What a stressful day!
Never been racially profiled before. Needless to say I'm more stressed that it happened at @marcorubio townhall #NHP— Ugonma Ubani-Ebere (@Ugonma_UE) February 7, 2016
Rubio's staff is upset that two Black @nyu_journalism graduate student reporters attempted 2 film his speech. #NHPrimary
— Taisha Henry (@Taisha_Henry) February 7, 2016
we were picked on. We pointed out our white classmate who didn't have the "right credentials". #Rubio worker didn't care. Focused on us. #NH
— Taisha Henry (@Taisha_Henry) February 7, 2016
Full Story – Think Progress
