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Amazon Banned Press From Beautiful Boy Screening in UN But SG Guterres and Alison Smale Silent As Guard Grabs Phone To Stop Interviews

By Matthew Russell Lee, Video CJR Letter PFT

UNITED NATIONS GATE, January 23 – When Amazon scheduled a screeing of its Amazon Studios' movie "Beautiful Boy" with Steve Carell on January 23, Inner City Press was invited and was told to come pick up its ticket in a United Nations Development Program building before six pm. It arrived and a handler in a black suit confirmed Inner City Press was on the list - but said that the actual ticket couldn't be found. Another Amazon production rep same and said "UN Security" was behind the disappearance of the ticket. Then Security grabbed Inner City Press' phone to stop it from live-streaming (to not give in to censorship, interviews continued outside.)

  On January 24 Inner City Press in writing asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, his Under SG for Global Communications Alison Smale, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq and lead spokesman Stephane Dujarric some questions, including: "January 24-2: On last night's Amazon Studios film screening that you promoted in yesterday's briefing, please immediately state who in the UN approved the use of UN premises for a for-profit company's for-profit film, any and all transfers of funds in connection with the event, the basis on which despite an accepted invitation Inner City Press are barred from the screening, and the specifics of the security in the lobby of DC1, one of whom grabbed Inner City Press' phone and stopped it from filming. Are these guards employed by the UN? Are they trained by the UN, since they are the face of the UN / UNDP there? Do they have immunity? On deadline."

  But three hours later there were no answers at all. The UN has become entire corrupt, roughing up and censoring journalists and refusing to answer Press questions about it. Today's UN should not be partnered with, particular by those claiming to care about freedom of the press and of expression.

   Inner City Press asked the basis, noting that Amazon and Jeff Bezos either shouldn't be involved in censorship or should at least explain it. The Amazon rep went out on the sidewalk to make a call; the rep in the black suit whispered to others that Inner City Press had started recording, which it had, openly.    

  Other tickets were given out, including to people not on the list, to one Elizabeth Dujarric, to another UN correspondent. Finally the Amazon rep came in front the sidewalk and said she had nothing to add, no explanation.    

   A guard came over and grabbed Inner City Press' phone, stopping it from filming, turning it dark. Who do you work for, I asked. The guard refused to answer. Video here.


Another blue shirted UN Department of Safety and Security officer refused to answer if those guarding UNDP work for the UN, or some outside firm. The handlers came over, once the camera had been stopped by the guard, to insist they were not from Amazon but Amazon's production company. Is that better?   

   The guards filmed Inner City Press out on the sidewalk as it ask some of those leaving the UNDP building what they thought of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his censorship. His spokes- / hatchetman Farhan Haq opening promoted this Amazon Prime for profit film, here. We'll have more on this.

***

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