Ivana Shatara, a journalist for a news outlet in the United States, was recently prevented from attending the lethal injection execution of Joe Nathan James Jr. in Alabama because prison officials found the clothing she wore to be “inappropriate” and “too exposing.”
The journalist decided to share her experience on Twitter, where she also revealed that she had previously covered other executions while wearing the same skirt without any issues. This is what she wrote:
I have worn this skirt to previous executions without incident, as well as to work, to professional gatherings, and other settings, and I believe that it is appropriate for all of these situations.
According to Shatara’s statement to The New York Post, she was donning a black A-line skirt from Philosophy that reached around 1.5 inches over her knee. The journalist also mentioned that she tried to pull the garment down because she has “length legs,” but despite her efforts, she was not permitted to enter the venue:
“I am a tall and leggy person, standing at 5ft 7in (or 5ft 10in with my heels on) and having long legs. I tried to make my skirt longer by pulling it up to my hips, but I was told that even though it was longer, it was still inappropriate.
When Shatara was unable to catch up with the other journalists, she took a pair of rain trousers from a male photographer and wore them under her skirt while holding them up with suspenders in order to obtain access and finish her task.
Unfortunately for her, she was stopped a second time because the authorities determined that the open-toed heels she was wearing were also improper for the event:
“I was also warned that my shoes were excessively revealing… and that I needed to alter my shoes,” she said.
Ivana Shatara did, in the end, make it to the execution, where she covered the story after first changing out of her heels and into tennis shoes that she had brought from her car. Nevertheless, she reported that the “unfair treatment” had left her with a profound sense of disappointment.
Ivana Shatara challenges the decision of officials to limit access to the execution in Alabama
Ivana Shatara, a journalist, called out employees of the Alabama Department of Corrections for originally barring her admission to the venue because of her “inappropriate” dress shortly after the execution of Joe Nathan James Jr. in Alabama. Shatara did this shortly after the execution.
She reported that the environment was awkward, and she was made to feel embarrassed about her physique and clothing:
“This was an awkward scenario, and I felt humiliated when questions about both my body and my clothing were directed at me in front of a room full of people, the vast majority of whom I had never met before. I sat down, made an effort to control my flushing, and got to work.
In another interview with The New York Post, Shatara suggested that the authorities provide journalists with advance notice of the event’s dress code requirements.
Before the day of the executions, members of the media need to be informed if there is going to be a dress code that is going to be enforced moving forward.
In addition to it, she stated:
“At least during the previous ten years during which my coworkers and I have covered executions in Alabama, there has never been a clothing code that has been announced to reporters or that has been enforced. The published visiting policy does not include any reference to members of the media or the procedures for carrying out executions. In addition, it makes no reference to footwear with open toes and discusses primarily the apparel of women.
Shatara went so far as to disclose the fact that the media house she works for intends to file an official complaint with the Alabama Department of Corrections in connection with the aforementioned incident. In the meantime, the latter has not commented on the subject anywhere publicly.
Ivana Shatara is a journalist and video news producer for Alabama Media Group
The following is everything you need to know about Ivana Shatara:
Ivana Shatara is a member of the Alabama Media Group staff and works as a journalist and video news producer.
Ivana Shatara is a journalist and video news producer based in Alabama. She has been in the industry for a while. She is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group at the moment, and she recently made headlines when she was prevented from entering the prison to cover the execution of convicted murderer Joe Nathan James Jr.
Since then, the journalist’s decision to speak out against the “unfair” treatment she suffered in the prison because of her clothing choice has garnered an overwhelming amount of support on social media.
There’s a light drizzle outside, an old Elton John record is playing, and I’ve got a Harry Potter book open.
According to her bio on LinkedIn, Shatara has also spent over seven years working for Advanced Local business AL. She has spent the most of her career covering breaking news and issues related to politics and the criminal justice system.