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Police officers and the Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney seized hundreds of photos from The Breeze’s offices this week, following a spring party that turned into a riot.  The officers threatened that they’d confiscate all of the equipment and documents from the paper’s office before the student editors agreed to turn the photos over.

The police were investigating a party turned riot in a student heavy neighborhood near the James Madison University campus in Harrisonburg. 

After the raid, the student editors sought legal counsel.  The photos are now temporarily sealed until the paper and Commonwealth attorney can come to an agreement.  Multiple student and area papers have also weighed in, arguing that the First Amendment and Privacy Protection Act should allow The Breeze to avoid turning over the photos. 

More from The Breeze at James Madison University
More from The Chronicle
More from the Student Press Law Center
More from the Washington Post on the riot preceding the raid