BOSTON — Smith College is defending its decision to restrict media from a recent student sit-in unless reporters declared solidarity with the protesters.

A statement from the Northampton, Massachusetts, private women’s college says organizers of the Wednesday protest asked on short notice to keep reporters out unless they expressed solidarity with the students. The protesters joined others across the country demonstrating in support of black students.

The college says it prefers to open its campus to media but honored the request because students organized the event. It says it doesn’t ban media from public events, but a spokeswoman won’t say if it will honor similar requests in the future.

Protesters at the University of Missouri and other schools have similarly tried to block media from recent events.


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