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New England First Amendment Coalition

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July 2025

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Police Deny Release of Body Cam Video After Teen Mistakenly Detained in Portland, Maine

NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman said police often have discretion to release body camera video, even when certain legal exemptions apply.

“Without knowing more, some of these exemptions don’t seem to make a whole lot of sense,” Silverman said. "Even if some of these exemptions that they are citing do apply in some degree, law enforcement has the ability to redact that footage in a way to protect those interests, while still maintaining some level of transparency."

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NEFAC Executive Director Calls Out Lack of Transparency in New Bedford, Massachusetts

“If sunshine is said to be the best of disinfectants, there appears to be a sky of clouds shadowing the city,” Executive Director Justin Silverman wrote in an op-ed for the New Bedford Light. “A look at recent legal action, reporter experiences and appeals of public records requests all indicate a culture of secrecy.”

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It’s Time to Strengthen R.I.’s Access to Public Records Act. Here’s Why.

“These common-sense changes to Rhode Island’s open-records law can help increase lagging public confidence in our government,” wrote NEFAC’s Mike Stanton in a Boston Globe op/ed. “My hope is that Rhode Island House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi, who has not allowed this bill a committee vote the past two years, and new Senate President Valarie Lawson, in an early test of her leadership, will stand up to the Governor and allow this bill to come to a vote.”

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Other Commentary and Coverage

Updated APRA Legislation Gaining Momentum at Rhode Island State House

Representatives from Access/Rhode Island, Common Cause Rhode Island, ACLU of Rhode Island, New England First Amendment Coalition, the League of Women Voters/R.I. and the R.I. Press Association all were present to back the bills.

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Thank You to Our Supporters

NEFAC appreciates the support of all its donors and contributors. In particular, we would like to recognize the Estate of Gloria L. Negri, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the following Leadership Circle donors ($10,000+) and Major Supporters ($2,500-$9,999):

LEADERSHIP CIRCLE

Rhode Island Foundation

The Boston Globe

Paul and Ann Sagan

The Robertson Foundation

MAJOR SUPPORTERS

Boston University

Hearst Conn. Media Group

Academy of New England Journalists

Northeastern University

WCVB-Boston