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Version 26 Version 27
An Arrest Warrant From Liberty University, for Me An Arrest Warrant From Liberty University, for Me
(about 1 hour later)
It was the end of March, and I had just put my two boys to bed. My phone was ringing in my pocket, but I didn’t care who it was — we were two and a half weeks into quarantine and the new reality was sinking in.It was the end of March, and I had just put my two boys to bed. My phone was ringing in my pocket, but I didn’t care who it was — we were two and a half weeks into quarantine and the new reality was sinking in.
The person on the phone was calling to warn me: The police for Liberty University, the private evangelical college in southern Virginia, had gone to the authorities and had a warrant for my arrest for trespassing.The person on the phone was calling to warn me: The police for Liberty University, the private evangelical college in southern Virginia, had gone to the authorities and had a warrant for my arrest for trespassing.
I am a freelance photographer for The New York Times, and I had recently taken pictures for an article about the decision by Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of Liberty University, to keep the school partially open during the growing Covid-19 pandemic.I am a freelance photographer for The New York Times, and I had recently taken pictures for an article about the decision by Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of Liberty University, to keep the school partially open during the growing Covid-19 pandemic.
Liberty asserted that they had recently changed policies and only staff, students and those conducting “University business” were permitted on campus.Liberty asserted that they had recently changed policies and only staff, students and those conducting “University business” were permitted on campus.
For the assignment, I drove two hours from my home in Richmond, Va., to Lynchburg. I got there early, before 9 a.m. I had to work quickly and efficiently because my husband was working from home and because of the virus, we had no child care options. I would work in the morning. He would work in the evening when I got home.For the assignment, I drove two hours from my home in Richmond, Va., to Lynchburg. I got there early, before 9 a.m. I had to work quickly and efficiently because my husband was working from home and because of the virus, we had no child care options. I would work in the morning. He would work in the evening when I got home.
I tried to be present in the work and take photos that accurately represented what I saw: a nearly empty campus with a few scattered clusters of students.I tried to be present in the work and take photos that accurately represented what I saw: a nearly empty campus with a few scattered clusters of students.
In the early afternoon, I headed back to Richmond. A week passed.In the early afternoon, I headed back to Richmond. A week passed.
Soon, the news of the warrant for my arrest appeared on Twitter. By Tuesday, I felt like I had been thrown into the middle of the Covid-19 culture war. Some friends messaged me that I was so brave. A woman on Twitter said the arrest warrant meant that I’m “doing something right.” To a lot of others I was “fake news” or worse.People were commenting on my story all over Twitter. I received more hateful emails than I ever had in my life.Soon, the news of the warrant for my arrest appeared on Twitter. By Tuesday, I felt like I had been thrown into the middle of the Covid-19 culture war. Some friends messaged me that I was so brave. A woman on Twitter said the arrest warrant meant that I’m “doing something right.” To a lot of others I was “fake news” or worse.People were commenting on my story all over Twitter. I received more hateful emails than I ever had in my life.
Updated Aug. 10, 2020
The latest highlights as the first students return to U.S. schools.
One read: “You media scum are indeed the ‘enemy of the people’ — it’s about time some Justice was served against your non stop continual attacks against Conservatives. You feel you can act with impunity while hiding behind the 1st Amendment.”One read: “You media scum are indeed the ‘enemy of the people’ — it’s about time some Justice was served against your non stop continual attacks against Conservatives. You feel you can act with impunity while hiding behind the 1st Amendment.”
The truth is, I didn’t feel very brave. The maximum sentence for trespassing was a year in jail. I thought about the permanent damage my incarceration would probably do to my sons.The truth is, I didn’t feel very brave. The maximum sentence for trespassing was a year in jail. I thought about the permanent damage my incarceration would probably do to my sons.
The night the news broke, I didn’t sleep at all. My muscles were tense and I was out of my mind with worry. I thought about how much better it would be just to go back the week before when the worst thing that was happening to me was trying to raise my boys in the middle of a pandemic.The night the news broke, I didn’t sleep at all. My muscles were tense and I was out of my mind with worry. I thought about how much better it would be just to go back the week before when the worst thing that was happening to me was trying to raise my boys in the middle of a pandemic.
Updated Aug. 13, 2020
The latest highlights as the first students return to U.S. schools.
At that moment, I was ready to give up photojournalism. It wasn’t worth it — the constant hustle to piece together a living — and now this. My mom and dad were on their knees praying for me, and I made a deal with God. I would give up my career and be a full-time mother if this went away.At that moment, I was ready to give up photojournalism. It wasn’t worth it — the constant hustle to piece together a living — and now this. My mom and dad were on their knees praying for me, and I made a deal with God. I would give up my career and be a full-time mother if this went away.
The New York Times hired a local attorney to represent me. He assured me I had not done anything wrong, and I would not go to jail. The pressure valve opened. I slept for 10 hours. Eventually, Twitter forgot about me.The New York Times hired a local attorney to represent me. He assured me I had not done anything wrong, and I would not go to jail. The pressure valve opened. I slept for 10 hours. Eventually, Twitter forgot about me.
But I still needed to go to the police station, on Good Friday, to sign my arrest warrant. By this point, almost a month into lockdown, I had a face mask I had sewn and the knowledge that tens of thousands of Americans had died. As I entered the police station, I noticed that none of the receptionists or police officers were wearing face masks, which have since become a cultural flash point.But I still needed to go to the police station, on Good Friday, to sign my arrest warrant. By this point, almost a month into lockdown, I had a face mask I had sewn and the knowledge that tens of thousands of Americans had died. As I entered the police station, I noticed that none of the receptionists or police officers were wearing face masks, which have since become a cultural flash point.
I thought about my beloved profession, and the people I know who are dedicated to publishing science and verifiable facts. Journalists are part of the checks and balances essential to making us a more perfect union.I thought about my beloved profession, and the people I know who are dedicated to publishing science and verifiable facts. Journalists are part of the checks and balances essential to making us a more perfect union.
After a few weeks, my attorney called. The prosecutor had agreed to dismiss the case. I didn’t think about Mr. Falwell too much, though. I felt he was just using me for what I represented. It wasn’t personal. I took assignments again. God would want me to. I do, however, need Jerry Falwell Jr.’s permission to ever return to Liberty University.After a few weeks, my attorney called. The prosecutor had agreed to dismiss the case. I didn’t think about Mr. Falwell too much, though. I felt he was just using me for what I represented. It wasn’t personal. I took assignments again. God would want me to. I do, however, need Jerry Falwell Jr.’s permission to ever return to Liberty University.