American Idol Truth Tour Organizers Arrested at Hollywood & Highland During Idol’s “Hollywood Week” Auditions

LOS ANGELES -- A group of Writers Guild of America, West staffers were handcuffed and subjected to “citizen’s arrest” yesterday morning at the Hollywood & Highland shopping complex while leafleting to raise awareness about American Idol writers not receiving health care benefits. The Writers Guild has been conducting a campaign consisting of rallies, informational leaflets, and other events to bring attention to the substandard industry practices of American Idol producer FremantleMedia.

At approximately 9:00 A.M. Thursday, Hollywood & Highland Center security guards abruptly surrounded, detained, and handcuffed WGAW Assistant Executive Director Jeff Hermanson along with Guild organizers Trish Albert, Laura Watson, and Terence Long as they passed out leaflets informing the public that “FremantleMedia refuses to treat its writers fairly.” The leafletters did not interfere with or obstruct the shopping mall’s operations or the activities of FremantleMedia. The Guild leafletters were turned over to the Los Angeles Police Department, and were later released after posting bond. 

“We will continue to exercise our First Amendment rights despite the heavy-handed treatment we received,” said WGAW Assistant Executive Director Jeff Hermanson. “The public has a right to know that the top-rated show on television does not provide their writers with basic necessities like health care.”

Writers Guild General Counsel Tony Segall said the Guild was considering legal action against the operators of the Hollywood & Highland Center for false arrest. The California Supreme Court has held that the California Constitution guarantees the right of expression of ideas in shopping malls, reasoning that malls are the contemporary equivalent of the town square.

Other labor unions and community groups have held public actions such as leafleting and picketing inside the Hollywood & Highland shopping complex without incident.

To access press photos, please visit the online media library link below:

http://press.wgaw.org/photos/Events/2008%20Events/American%20Idol%20Hollywood%20&%20Highland%20Leaflet%20Action%2011-13-08/

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) is a labor union representing writers of motion pictures, television, radio and Internet programming, including news and documentaries. Founded in 1933, the Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members. It is involved in a wide range of programs that advance the interests of writers, and is active in public policy and legislative matters on the local, national and international levels. For more information on the WGAW, please visit: www.wga.org.