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"troopers checked and photographed journalists and their credentials and driver's licenses at the scene in order to expedite the identification process."

Now they know who they are, and where they live. It's a classic intimidation tactic.

Right but checking credentials was okay and I assume their credentials had their name (or gathering their names was surely okay).

It was just the photography that wasn’t okay. However, what do you need a photograph for when you can just go pull up their file back at the station using the name on the credentials you just took down?

Exactly, it wasn't necessary for law enforcement functions. It served another purpose entirely.

Intimidation is the point. None of this is required to check a journalist’s status.

They are arresting violent protesters that are masquerading as journalists.

They are intimidating them, you know, like fascists do sometimes