University of Missouri professor Melissa Click claims that a student journalist she threatened during campus protests in November didn’t identify himself as a student or journalist. Mark Schierbecker disputes that, and her claim that he broke through a chain of protesters.

MU Assistant Professor Melissa Click seemed to be instructing students and protesters to block reporters attempting to access protesters’ campsite on public ground. (photo from video by Mark Schierbecker)

MU Assistant Professor Melissa Click seemed to be instructing students and protesters to block reporters attempting to access protesters’ campsite on public ground. (photo from video by Mark Schierbecker)

“They passed around me because they assumed I wasn’t a member of the press,” said Schierbecker. “I just happened to end up on the right side of things. I passed through non-violently, but she’s going to try to word it to seem favorable.”

Schierbecker’s video shows him saying he’s media and moments later, Click calling for “some muscle” to remove “a reporter.”

Schierbecker said he’s not too disappointed about a Columbia city prosecutor no longer pursuing assault charges against Click.

“The criminal charge was inconsequential to some of my ulterior goals in this, which is to shed light on press freedoms,” said Schierbecker. “I think we’ve done that marvelously.”

Click has agreed to a deal that allows her to avoid prosecution. She claims she was not calling for violence.

The Board of Curators two weeks ago suspended Click with pay pending further investigation.

Brad Tregnago of KSSZ contributed to this story.