Protesters surround homes of Peruvian journalists Gustavo Gorriti and Rosa Mara Palacios

February 22, 2023 3:42 PM EST

Bogotá, February 22, 2023 – Peruvian authorities must investigate the harassment of journalists Gustavo Gorriti and Rosa María Palacios and take steps to protect members of the press covering political protests and corruption scandals, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, February 21, at least 20 protesters gathered in front of the homes of Gorriti and Palacios, shouted insults over loudspeakers, and accused them of spreading fake news, according to multiple news reports and the journalists, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Gorriti works as the editor-in-chief at the news website IDL-Reporteros and Palacios is a columnist at the Lima-based daily La Republica.

The protesters were reported to be supporters of La Resistencia, an extremist right-wing movement whose leaders had published Gorriti’s address on social media and encouraged followers to harass him. A video posted on Twitter shows the protesters in front of Gorriti’s home holding signs, waving flags, and calling him a “traitor to the homeland.”

After an hour, the group marched to Palacio’s home, where they used a loudspeaker to insult the journalist, according to those sources. “It’s scary,” Palacios said. “They are trying to intimidate journalists.” Police were at both scenes, and the protesters left Palacios’ home on their own accord after an hour.

More:
https://cpj.org/2023/02/protesters-surround-homes-of-peruvian-journalists-gustavo-gorriti-and-rosa-maria-palacios/