D.C. Pro board member Bob Becker sent a letter to Mayor Vincent C. Gray on behalf of the chapter, calling for immediate action after the arrest of two people covering a D.C. Taxicab Commission meeting in June.
Becker, the chapter's First Amendment/Freedom of Information chairman, also expressed concern about the commission's disregard for D.C.'s new open meetings statute.
Pete Tucker of FightBack.org was ordered to stop audio recording of the meeting and taking pictures of participants. Jim Epstein of Reason.tv was told to stop video recording.
U.S. Park Police arrested both Tucker and Epstein. When Washington Post columnist John Kelly exited the auditorium to observe the arrests, police barred him from re-entering and watching the meeting.
Becker's letter says the arrests were inappropriate and requests the mayor's help in making it clear that all public bodies must comply with D.C.'s public records and open meetings laws.
The commission has since agreed to change its policies so that people may record its meetings.