Last week, New York City police officers arrested four well-known activists for filming them. Copwatchers — people who regularly film and document police activity — have often been targeted by cops who don‘t want to be recorded, despite reminders that recording police interactions is legal in the city. While legal protections for filming police are still unclear in some parts of the country, the invaluable role that copwatchers play as journalists — acting as the eyes, ears and media of the streets — deserves to be recognized.