Developing: Charlotte Observer reporter arrested while covering Moral Monday

Courtesy of the Advancement Project

Tim Funk, the faith reporter for the Charlotte Observer, was arrested today at the Moral Monday protest at the NC General Assembly, according to a statement released by the Advancement Project. Funk was covering the demonstrations and was one of almost 100 people who were arrested at the weekly action protesting regressive legislation put forward by the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

Protestors who intend to be arrested at the demonstrations are separated from the rest of the attendees, both in where they stand and (at least last week) by green ribbons around their risk indicating their intention to be arrested. The Advancement Project, one of the organizations behind the demonstrations, also released this fuzzy photo of Funk being arrested today.

We will post more information as it becomes available. Read more about Moral Monday here.

UPDATE: Jennifer Farmer, a spokesperson for the Advancement Project who witnessed the incident, said Funk was there to cover the protest, not participate, adding that he had been with protesters all day interviewing people.

"When he was arrested he was just covering the event," Farmer said. "It looked like he tried to explain to them that he was a reporter. This was definitely during the course of work for him."

A spokesperson for the NC Capitol Police was not immediately available for comment.

PHOTOS: Two arrested protesting deportation at Sen. Hagan's office

Two immigration activists connected to the NC Dream Team were arrested Thursday for refusing to leave US Sen. Kay Hagan's Greensboro office. The two women were protesting the scheduled deportation of single mother Maria Juana Perez, pictured in the center (in a chair wearing a dark coat).

Perez, who lives in Greensboro, has two young daughters (also pictured) who are US citizens. She was arrested for driving without a license and has been in the country since 2000.

Over 20 supporters, including her sister (the woman in blue seated right) assembled at Hagan's office, some meeting with her staff and others holding banners outside. Perez is scheduled for deportation to Mexico on Dec. 27, two days after Christmas — which coincidentally is her birthday.

The two activists who were arrested around 6:50 pm did so as an act of civil disobedience while supporters and reporters looked on. Below, Elisa Benitez can be seen in red through the window in Hagan's office while a police officer (in yellow) talks to the other Dreamer being arrested. More coverage in the next issue of YES! Weekly, available in print and online Wednesday.

Photos and reporting by Eric Ginsburg.