The TV networks have already sent correspondents back to the scene in anticipation of the upheaval that is expected to take place in Ferguson the night of the announcement.
The networks, cable outlets, radio networks, internet news outlets are already staked outside the courthouse waiting for the inevitable. They won't directly say it but they expect violence and mayhem in the streets. Rioting. The police and National Guard are already in position and waiting too. A virtual media village is readily seen as evidenced on the Sunday talk shows.
Here in the Bay Area, there's already TV presence in Oakland even though there's been no indication that trouble might be brewing anytime soon. This is a recipe for disaster. This is where common sense and responsibility is trumped by a thirst for sensationalism and visuals.
Come announcement day, protesters, the legitimate passionate, loud, but peaceful throng will make speeches and express their anger and resentment toward the decision of the Grand Jury. You'll probably see little of them because they don't present good TV pictures. As nightfall nears, news choppers will buzz overhead and a bunch of black-bandanna-wearing anarchists with masks and armed with spray-paint cans and bars will emerge from BART trains--90% of these fools don't even live in Oakland --but will come out and start breaking windows and making trouble. That's when the TV news choppers will do their thing and breathless reporters begin their "reporting."
I'm assuming this scenario plays out--I hope I'm wrong. I'm hoping for a lot of things. I'm hoping that, as expected, the Grand Jury no-indictment decision will not spark any violence in Ferguson or cities across the nation like NY, Boston, Los Angeles, SF and most especially, Oakland. But like many, I'm not entirely optimistic.
I'm hoping too, that the TV people here, show some responsibility in their coverage. They don't have a very good track record. That they cover 50 or so odd hooligans bent on using the Ferguson decision to inflict violence and mayhem in Oakland is not right. It's one thing to cover the rioting and mayhem when there's significant numbers; like if there are hundreds or few thousands of protesters starting fires and confronting police; uncivil disobedience. That's news, albeit unpleasant, but it's news. A rat pack of anarchists, few in number, should be shunned by mainstream news outlets but that's hardly been the case in Oakland.
I would hope that the people who make these calls of just how they cover the impending week in Oakland would show some degree of caution and restraint. Most of the anarchists don't even know Mike Brown from Buster Brown and are using this tragedy to make trouble. Furthermore, the fact they know they will get coverage from media here, no matter how trivial they are, speaks volumes about news judgment, or lack of it.
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ReplyDeleteMaybe we will see Quan & Kaplan once again marching hand & hand with the protesters trying to block the Police from restoring peace.
ReplyDeleteThey're going to be so mad they're going to break into a foot locker and steal the latest Air Jordan's.
ReplyDeleteWhen it's a black man and a white officer let's also make sure we show the cutest childhood picture from 8 years ago when we report on the victim and not a picture from recent years with gang tattoos and marijuana smoke coming out the mouth while throwing up gang signs. It's the way they've done it the last 3 times it's happened, it's the liberal playbook.
Sadly all too true.
DeleteThe white troublemakers will be from Berkeley, the black ones will be locals.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to get Bill Cosbys take on all of this.
ReplyDelete"This is where common sense and responsibility is trumped by a thirst for sensationalism and visuals."
ReplyDeleteBingo.
Was Brown's accomplice ever charged for his participation in the strong arm robbery or making false statements regarding the shooting?
ReplyDeleteImagine the Press' disappointment if ...
ReplyDeleteA) They decide to indict.
B) They decide to indict, but no violence breaks out, anywhere.
I agree with Rich on this. I have felt the same way about most of the Occupy protests as well. I don't want to disrespect or invalidate the feelings of legitimate peaceful protestors. It's the troublemakers whom I don't think care about the issues. They are just there because they think it's exciting. They see an opportunity to do something that is out of the norm from everyday life and they want to see how much rebellion they can get away with. When it's prudent, they can simply claim that they're protesters. But once its dark, the bandanas go up over their faces and they start with the looting and the vandalism. It's primitive, animal behavior, really. I don't know what's going to happen to Ferguson, but I wish them peace and good luck. For Oakland, I am so glad that Jean Quan is almost out of office. I was really frustrated with the way she handled (or didn't handle) the Occupy Oakland protests. Oakland needs to be in more capable hands.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually surprised Rich didn't go for incendiary click bait and instead wrote a piece that mirrors what most residents would agree with. The negative comments are from people who don't live here. The same people who descend on sfgate.com whenever an Oakland article, whether positive or negative, is published. Whose miserable lives revolve around making sure their disgusting opinion of black people is first and loudest.
ReplyDelete