On September 20 and 21, 2025, Peruvian police used rubber bullets, tear gas, and even rocks to disperse protests against President Dina Boluarte. During the crackdown, at least seven journalists covering the demonstrations were attacked by security forces.
Among those injured were Exitosa Noticias reporter Jahaira Pacheco and camera operator Percy Grados, both hospitalized with leg wounds. Freelance photographer Juan Mandamiento, César Zamalloa of Hildebrandt en sus Trece, Diego Quispe of Ojo Público, and Reuters journalists Anthony Marina and Néstor Galarza were also struck by pellets fired by police.
According to the National Association of Journalists in Peru (ANP), officers not only fired directly at reporters but also blocked escape routes and confiscated journalists’ phones, tactics that endanger physical safety and restrict the right to report.
This violent repression reflects a troubling pattern. Since taking office in December 2022, President Boluarte’s government has overseen repeated crackdowns on demonstrations, during which around 50 civilians have been killed and dozens of journalists assaulted (Human Rights Watch).
At Free Press Alliance, we urge an independent investigation into these latest attacks. No journalist should ever be targeted for doing their job. Protecting press freedom in moments of political crisis is not optional, it is a cornerstone of democracy.