- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Manhattan DA Drops Charges Against Photographer Alexa Wilkinson
Prosecutors dismissed case after investigation into social media posts and protest coverage, sparking questions about press freedom.
Published on Feb. 25, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Months after an arrest that sent a chill through New York's protest press corps, Manhattan prosecutors have moved to dismiss the criminal case against photographer Alexa Wilkinson, who uses they/them pronouns. Wilkinson was arrested in September 2025 following protests at The New York Times's Midtown headquarters, accused of aggravated harassment as a hate crime tied to social media posts and their coverage of the demonstration. With the dismissal, the months of uncertainty that Wilkinson and press freedom advocates say upended their income, housing stability and ability to keep working as a photojournalist are now over.
Why it matters
The case raised thorny questions about when sharp political criticism crosses the legal line into a criminal threat, and how far prosecutors should go when using bias-motivated statutes in cases that turn on online posts and proximity to protest activity rather than physical violence. Press freedom organizations say Wilkinson's ordeal looks familiar, with journalists and documentarians who show up to record protests increasingly finding themselves swept into criminal cases, only to see some charges later dropped.
The details
Prosecutors had charged Wilkinson with aggravated harassment in the second degree, with a hate crime enhancement, alleging that social media posts and a video identifying 11 New York Times employees amounted to a threatening communication. The Manhattan District Attorney's office said the dismissal came 'following a thorough investigation' and that there was 'insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.' Wilkinson's attorney said the case was dropped because there was not enough evidence.
- Wilkinson was arrested in September 2025 following protests at The New York Times's Midtown headquarters the previous summer.
- On February 24, 2026, Manhattan prosecutors moved to dismiss the criminal case against Alexa Wilkinson.
The players
Alexa Wilkinson
A photographer who uses they/them pronouns and was arrested in September 2025 following protests at The New York Times's Midtown headquarters, accused of aggravated harassment as a hate crime tied to social media posts and their coverage of the demonstration.
Terra Brockman
Wilkinson's attorney with the Legal Aid Society.
Manhattan District Attorney's Office
The prosecutors who moved to dismiss the criminal case against Alexa Wilkinson.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
