Cory Elia is a journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He is managing editor of Village Portland,[1] a volunteer reporter and podcast host at KBOO.[2]
Reporting
editElia's footage has been used for national-level coverage, including regarding the August 2019 assault on Andy Ngo[3][4] and the August 2020 New York Times and Washington Post coverage of the Killings of Aaron Danielson and Michael Reinoehl.[5][6]
2020 George Floyd protest coverage
editElia says he was injured multiple times by police while covering the George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon. By mid-June, he was on separate occasions pepper-sprayed and beaten with police batons.[1] On June 2, after police struck Elia several times, causing his head to strike a concrete wall, Elia sought treatment at a hospital. Following the incident, police denied that video coverage of the event depicted what Elia described. The incident was referred to the Independent Police Review board. Police argue that media were told to leave the area following a declaration an unlawful assembly was declared, a position that the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists strongly opposes and calls an unlawful restriction.[7]
On 30 June, Elia and two other independent reporter, Lesley McLam and Justin Yau, were arrested while covering the protest. A video taken by Elia just prior to arrest shows Elia telling an officer that Elia recognized him from a previous night of protests. A group of police shortly thereafter rushes Elia, pushes him down, and arrests him.[2] On July 1, the Oregon Speaker of the House, Tina Kotek, lambasted the Portland Police Bureau in an open letter, referring among other things to the arrests of Elia and two other independent journalists.[8] Following the arrest, a district court placed a two-week restraining order on the Portland police, barring them from arresting, using force against, or seizing recording equipment and press passes from journalists and legal observers. The decision noted that police chose to arrest Elia and the two other journalists after they were made aware of their press credentials.[9] Later that month, Elia and McLam filed a suit against the city, the second of at least three suits filed against the city on behalf of journalists that month.[10][11] On June 3, Elia said that on account of exhaustion and seizure of his equipment, he would no longer cover the protests.[9]
Personal life
editNow age 35–36, Elia lived his early life in southeastern Portland, Oregon. In the mid-2010s, Elia worked for FedEx. After a major back injury, Elia began self-medicating with marijuana. Due to the drug's illegal status in Oregon at the time, Elia was fired from FedEx, leading to homelessness and a methamphetamine addiction.[12] Elia describes coverage of homelessness as a major aspect of his journalism.[13]
After three years of homelessness, Elia received housing and entered recovery. In 2018, he was a junior at a local college and spent time volunteering.[12] Elia was a 2020-21 Portland State University's Student Media Board member.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b Mechanic, Allison (16 June 2020). "Protesters, press say they're getting hurt by Portland police". KATU2 ABC. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ a b Levinson, Jonathan (1 July 2020). "Portland Police Arrest 3 Journalists During Tuesday Protest". OPB. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ Woodrow, Melanie (2 July 2019). "Portland journalist Andy Ngo speaks out, says Antifa behind attack". ABC7 San Francisco. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ Gais, Hannah (11 September 2019). "The Making of Andy Ngo". Jewish Currents. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ Hill, Evan; Cooper, Stella; Jordan, Drew; Khavin, Dmitriy (1 September 2020). "How the Fatal Shooting at a Portland Protest Unfolded". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ Bennett, Dalton; Cahlan, Sarah; Lee, Joyce Sohyun (4 September 2020). "What video analysis of the Aug. 29 Portland shooting tells us". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ Sparling, Zane (6 June 2020). "Portland journalists risk injury while covering protests". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Sparling, Zane (1 July 2020). "Oregon Speaker of the House slams police action at Portland protest as 'unlawful'". Portland Tribune. Pamplin Media Group. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ a b Naughtie, Andrew (3 July 2020). "Judge blocks Portland police from using physical force against journalists". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Bernstein, Maxine (9 July 2020). "Two independent journalists file suit against Portland police, county sheriff's deputies and state police". Oregon Live. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ Ramakrishnan, Jayati (9 July 2020). "City of Portland now faces a 3rd class-action lawsuit over police use of force at protests". Oregon Live. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ a b Waldroupe, Amanda (12 October 2018). "From the ashes, a revitalized Clackamas Service Center". Street Roots. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ Elia, Cory (3 August 2019). "Reflection: conducting the survey for the Portland Street Response". Village Portland. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ "Student Media Board". Portland State University. Archived from the original on 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-01-31.[non-primary source needed]