Reporter arrested at land claim demonstration in Northern New York

Isaac White, a reporter for Indian Time, was arrested while covering a demonstration on New York’s Barnhart Island at the Canadian border May 21, 2024.

The weekly newspaper reported that White arrived at the island, which is owned by the New York Power Authority, after receiving a news tip. He found a small demonstration opposing a proposed settlement of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s claims to that land.

When state police arrived at 7:30 p.m., demonstrators were using a backhoe to excavate at the NYPA’s St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project, the Post-Standard reported. A spokesperson for the NYPA said no equipment was damaged.

When police began arresting those present, White was among the detained. He identified himself as a reporter and said he was there in a professional capacity, but he was told it didn’t matter, Indian Time wrote.

White and seven demonstrators were taken to the state police barracks in Massena before being released on charges of trespassing and misdemeanor conspiracy, according to a news release from the New York State Police. One of the demonstrators was also charged with second-degree criminal mischief, a felony.

According to Indian Time, White’s charging documents state he is accused of “knowingly and unlawfully agreeing with several other individuals to engage in activity which included damaging property, belonging to the New York State Power Authority, to an extent constituting a felony in the state of New York.”

The New York State Police did not respond to requests for additional information.

White appeared alongside the other arrestees for arraignment on June 11, the paper reported, but the necessary paperwork had not been properly filed with the court and the hearings were adjourned. The reporter is scheduled to reappear in court on Aug. 13.

White declined to comment while the charges against him are still pending.