I get why the press is so scared

[RobertEarl]

Last night watching the press get run off from where they had been all day, it struck me how submissive the members of the press have become.

No one spoke up for the right of the free-press to assemble. Law officers told them to move, and with barely a whimper, they all packed up and moved away.

Given the violent attacks by police the press have witnessed, and the fact that the press is a bunch of chickens who would just as soon film the neck-wringing of other press members as stand up for the rights of even one dead person, much less a corralled community, I get why the press, as a whole, is scared silly. The cops have the press right where they want them: Scared silly.

[kwolf68]

2. Bed they made

Enjoy it....unfortunately, an open and free press is essential to the survival of our nation. This could be a watershed moment in more than 1 way.

[leftstreet]

5. +1 Cowards just hoping to make $$

[Avalux]

13. Having the media on the ground filming is vital and speaks for itself. n/t

[RobertEarl]

19. The press is the People, in reality

They are there to tell us the story. They are there representing freedom, and last night they shirked even that responsibility. Shame on them.

[1StrongBlackMan]

24. That may have been the case ...

They are there to tell us the story. They are there representing freedom

50 years ago ... maybe even 20 years ago ... Now, the "press" is either, stenographers for one or another partisan group; or, agenda-drive glory hounds, seeking out that money shot photo/story that will make them media rock-stars.

Freedom, justice or we the people are only a passing thought/excuse.

[randys1]

28. BUt we must change that as the press is the ONLY thing separating us from the corp whores

The idiot teabagging morons think the press is the enemy unless the press is wholly owned by the corp masters, which most of it is.

The idiots actually think there is a liberal bias with the press.

If these moronic assholes would look up the word "liberal" they would see that not only would you pray and HOPE the press were liberal but you would hope ALL Human beings were

[louis-t]

3. Not all of the press has slunk away..

I saw the Al-jazeera guy get arrested and he was back reporting the next day. Several MSNBC people have been teargassed multiple times and keep reporting.

[LordGlenconner]

14. There was a photog from Getty Images that got arrested as well

Not sure what kind of coverage the OP is watching, but I didn't see Chris Hayes or Don Lemon backing off from much last night. I guess it's easy to talk a big game when you're not being gassed.

[RobertEarl]

20. Live stream is what i watched

And when the police came and told them they had no freedom to assemble there any longer, they ran off. The press ran off without an audible whimper.

They aren't even complaining about it today. If they did you'd be writing about it.

The press turned and ran all because they cops told them they had no more freedom last night. Surely you are not trying to make an excuse for the press's chicken like behavior and fear to stand up for freedom and the American way?

[LordGlenconner]

48. Cool story bro

Let me know when you actually get out there and cover the event rather than just talking about it.

[RobertEarl]

49. What is your point/problem?

Surely you are not suggesting that it is okay for the police to determine when and where a press member may do their job?

I was watching, along with another 30,000 internet users, a live streaming of the police actions on the street as they blocked to road and threatened everyone with their guns. Then the police decided they did not want that information to continue to be seen by me and others, so they made the press pack up.

Surely you are not defending that action by the police or the scared reporters, are you?

[LordGlenconner]

50. I don't believe I ever condoned the police behavior

What I was speaking to was your condemnation of the news media covering the story on the ground, a media that you admit you haven't watched much.

Nice attempt at doing the twist there, Chubby Checker.

[RobertEarl]

51. Your problem is me?

Haha.

The rest of us have a problem with how the police are corrupting the constitution, and your problem is with me complaining about the corruption of the constitution?

Let me know when you come around to caring about the constitution and the corruption of our rights by the police. It should be a cool story.

[LordGlenconner]

52. I'm sorry, I wish I could draw you a picture

Because it's becoming clear that maybe reading comprehension is not your strength. I'll do the best i can here:

You have called the media cowards for doing what the police say. My response: I do not believe one is a coward to do what the police say when they have a gun in their face (happened last night) and are being tear gassed (has happened repeatedly during this story).

Why is that so difficult to understand?

If in your world those statements somehow equate to supporting what are obviously fascists in action then I'm afraid I can't help you.

I'll say it once more less formally: The cops in Ferguson are fucking assholes. They are fascists. Many of them belong in prison, including the chief and Darren Wilson.

I hope that ties it all together for you.

[RobertEarl]

53. You're almost there

Yep, i do call the press cowards for packing up. You get it!! Star for you, lord.

Now the question is why are they so scared?

My feeling is that they should not have packed up. That they should have said, "This is where we stand. The cameras are rolling, and you, cop, are not the judge and jury. So take a hike, bub."

Instead the press folded like a cheap suit. Yeah, i have a problem with that. And your problem is me? In light of all the things you could go on about you come after me expressing your petty displeasure? What are you some kind of royal blooded being who thinks you can lord over me? Bwahahahaha!!

[LordGlenconner]

54. How many of these stories have you covered?

How many times have you defied police requests and gotten yourself arrested for the first amendment?

I guess your point would be more interesting, and relevant, if you've actually done the things you claim they should do. For instance if you were this guy:





As it is you're just some guy on the internet driving from the backseat with a never ending shortage of opinions. And I gather you know what they say about opinions.

[RobertEarl]

55. This ain't about me

You having a hard time getting over me? You would like me to cancel my free speech just to make you feel better? Bwhahaha.

The press were absolute cowards. There is more courage in the face of that young girl who was holding her hands up asking the cops to not shoot, than i saw from the press at that street corner the other night.

The press has shamed itself. They can redeem themselves, but i fear they are thinking more along the lines of the likes of you, lord.

[Lex]

4. They are the front line of democracy

but don't act like it. Not with their blow-dried haircuts and super bright white teeth. I saw a tweet last night that said Don Lemon was apologizing to the cops for the fact that they tear gassed him.

[cwydro]

6. Keep in mind

They work for corporations. They have to toe the line to keep their jobs like the rest of Americans who work for big corps.

Probably more afraid of their bosses than the cops or the bad actors amongst the protesters.

[RobertEarl]

8. Not true

The press are shaking in fear that the cops may abuse them.

The press have seen the cops go wild and so they tremble in fear of being the next victim. The press all bent over backwards last night when the cops approached them and told them they had to leave where they had been all day. The cameras were rolling and the mealy mouthed press members had not one objection to being possibly assaulted. If there had been one case of the press standing up, we'd be seeing it on our screens. As it is they all just shrunk away in total fear. The press is scared. Right where the cops want them.

[cwydro]

31. Certainly may be true.

But they are as much afraid of losing their jobs.

I'd be afraid in the situations I've seen them in too...from the cops or from some idiot shooting a gun to cause trouble.

I would not knock them until I walked in their shoes.

But you can if you want.

[RobertEarl]

33. It was true

Right there on camera. The cops told them to pack up. Oh, there was the one guy on my feed muttering to himself, and his viewers - like me - the camera even showed they cop telling them to leave. But was there any reporter telling the cops they were wrong? No.

I will knock them for bowing to illegal pressure and threats. I see you admit you would not and all i can say to you is BZZZZZt.

[TeamPooka]

7. Where's Hunter Thompson or Dan Rather when you need them?

[RobertEarl]

9. Good question

Will there be even one hero to come from this latest assault on the free-press?

I did see a few press members on twitter who were complaining. But they will be assaulted by the scared press for that, I'm sure.

[1StrongBlackMan]

27. There's no money in being, either ...

you'd have to cover the facts of the story, wherever they took you ... lessening the chance to write a book about writing the story that made you a rock star.

[justiceischeap]

10. Or they know it's good optics to be harassed

It makes people tune in to see just how far these cops will go. That and the looting/violence is what is keeping the world at large interested in this story.

I think they're handling exactly how they want to handle it.

[RobertEarl]

11. Not true

Where do you come up with that bs?

If what you said made any sense, the press last night would have stayed put an filmed what happened next. Instead the press folded like a cheapsuit and slunk away; mics between their legs to mute their whimpering.

[justiceischeap]

12. And only you are going to tell the story that way

They are going to tell it another way... they were FORCED by the police under threat of fire to slink away... and if they'd stood their ground, who would be there to tell the story?

It's all about spin and press and advertising and keeping people hooked on the story and from the world reaction, I'd say people are definitely hooked--mostly because this isn't supposed to happen in America.

[RobertEarl]

16. """ ... FORCED by the police under threat of fire ...."

Thanks, you just admitted the cops broke the law.

And the press wormed away. Had they stayed then there would have been one hell of a story and in your logic/no logic, would have been famous.

Instead they are chickens. This isn't supposed to happen in America. But it did and the press failed to cover it, or you would be writing about it.

[justiceischeap]

18. I never denied the cops broke the law

I think the Governor of Missouri is breaking the law, because I'm sure it was under his orders that the protestors have to continue moving on the sidewalk, thinking that would discourage them. I also think it's the Governor's bright idea to cage the media. That said, not all the media are slinking off into the great goodnight or we wouldn't know half the stuff we know about what's going on. There are some very brave citizen journalists doing an admirable job reporting the story.

[RobertEarl]

21. You do admit press chickened out?

They should all be ashamed of themselves for packing up when a cop told them too. They had been there all day; suddenly they turned and ran because a cop told them too, and the reporting was over. Not like the brave citizen journalists at all.

[WinkyDink]

42. HUH???

[VanGoghRocks]

15. I hear ya. I do want to say, though, that finding oneself in combat, when the bullets are

whizzing around, is probably terrifying and I don't know I personally would stand up under the terror. (I'm a former print journalist but covering strictly peaceful non-violent matters.) I don't know about you, but those cops scare the shit out of me. (I got a full dose of them during Occupy and, if one contemplates one's own mortality, they are scary and menacing as all get-out.)

It's easy for those of us not in the line-of-fire to say "Oh, so-and-so should do such-and-such." But I honestly don't know how well I would hold up were I in the line of fire myself.

Maybe some of our combat vets could weigh in here about life in a war zone.

[RobertEarl]

17. Sure, of course

Like I said: The cops have them right where they want the press: Scared silly.

This is not supposed to happen in America. But it is. The police should be protecting the press, not threatening the press.

There was no line of fire last night. It was peaceful where the press were until the cops came wading in.

[VanGoghRocks]

32. The NY Times quoted a local this morning saying it was hard to know who exactly was

in charge because law enforcement seemed to be at war with itself, with different personnel giving different instructions.

It was an incredibly telling quote:

“It almost seems like they can’t decide what to do, and like law enforcement is fighting over who’s got the power,” said Antione Watson, 37, who stood near a middle-of-the-street memorial of candles and flowers for Mr. Brown, the 18-year-old killed on a winding block here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/20/us/ferguson-missouri-protests.html?_r=0

[RobertEarl]

35. What a slimy piece

Par for the NYT course; bowing to pressure.

Instead the NYT should be saying what I am saying here; the press needs to grow a spine and stand up for their rights like so many plain people have been doing.

Law enforcement has an easy decision: Follow the constitution.

[VanGoghRocks]

37. Yeah, I haven't been real big on the NYTimes since Shocking and Awful. But it's useful

to read it to find out how the ruling elites are thinking on any given day.

[Maedhros]

22. I think it's telling that we're discussing a policing event as "combat." [n/t]

[VanGoghRocks]

23. A couple of the foreign journalists said that Ferguson last night (Monday 8/18)

was as bad as any war zone they'd ever covered. Now that may sound like hyperbole and it probably is to an extent. But some of the still shots I'm seeing are pretty f*ing dramatic.

Take a moment to look at the spread below from Sunday night's skirmishes (warning -- it takes awhile to load over slow wireless connections) and then tell me the word 'combat' isn't appropriate.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/25-images-from-the-worst-night-of-violence-in-ferguson

[RobertEarl]

30. Yeah. But it was the cop's violence

That's why the press chickened out. They were scared of the cops using their violence on members of the press. Wouldn't have been the first time.

But it was the first time I ever saw the press fold up and scurry away in such fear and in denial of rights. Thing is, it wasn't THAT dangerous.

[Maedhros]

34. It is an appropriate description of what is happening.

It is NOT an appropriate description of what our police officers should be trained and equipped to do.

[VanGoghRocks]

36. Well, since the glory days of Occupy, I've come to think of the police as little more than

a goon squad for the ruling class. So I guess it all hinges on what you mean by "our" police officers. Mike Brown's slaying just unmasks further the fact that they will kill any of us as soon as look of us, color really doesn't matter (ask Kelly Thomas), and they'll get away with it.

[Maedhros]

38. Yes - more concern for the "looted" McDonalds than for the people suffering from teargas exposure.

It seems obvious that the militarization of the police is a preventive measure for when the teeming masses wake up and realize they've been abused, lied to and scapegoated for the last 40 years.

[VanGoghRocks]

39. Behind that looted McDonalds stands a member of the bourgeoisie, a multi-millionaire

franchise owner (who's probably fully insured against any property damages anyway).

The police obviously are at the beck and call of the bourgeoisie and we are nothing more than disposable nuisances and profit centers to both the bourgeoisie and its goon squad members.

[Maedhros]

40. Absolutely.

We're "consumers" to them, not citizens.

[socialist_n_TN]

44. RE: your second paragraph...

Sounds like Marx (not to mention Lenin and Trotsky) was right

Welcome to DU BTW. Check out our Socialist Progressives group if you haven't already.

[Voice for Peace]

25. St. Louis, we hardly knew ye

St. Louis Post Dispatch, Photo by Lester Linck
1965 Ivory Perry lies down in front of a car during a protest against police brutality.

Photo circa early 1935


1937. Officers Friendly & White




In 1907 the St. Louis Police Department purchased its first motorcycle.

You've come a long way, baby.

Many more pictures at link: http://www.slpva.com/historic/stlouispolicepatrolsupport.html

Louis IX, a follower of St. Francis of Assisi, was known for his ardent piety and sanctity. Louis invited the poor to his own table each day, where he waited on them and attended to their needs. His personal interest in the poor led to the founding of numerous charitable institutions including hospitals for the destitute and lepers.

Known as the "Peace King", he managed to mediate between the popes and the German Emperors which kept France out of war. As a Ruler, he dispensed justice fairly and with great attention to the needs of his subjects. He was known for his scrupulous honesty. (snip.. solidarity w/papal inquisition, but...)

Revered as a saint before his death, he was canonized by Pope Boniface VII in 1297. St. Louis, the only King of France to be canonized was recently hailed as the "the greatest of all Saint-Kings" by biographer Jacques LeGoff.

The Saints, if there are such things, with hearts and eyes, are weeping.

[Maedhros]

41. St. Louis has certainly had its share of moments in history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1877_St._Louis_general_strike

The strike was ended when some 3,000 federal troops and 5,000 deputized special police killed at least eighteen people in skirmishes around the city. On July 28, 1877, they took control of the Relay Depot, the Commune's command center, and arrested some seventy strikers.[1] With the leadership imprisoned, the strikers surrendered, the wage cuts remained, and 131 strike leaders were fired by the Burlington Railroad.[2]

[Voice for Peace]

47. If this is for real (and not wishful thinking satire)

it just could be another momentous moment in history.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025415752

[proverbialwisdom]

26. Where are the lawyers on the ground? Any MSM legal teams present? Didn't even CCR leave yesterday?

I'd expect the rights of members of the press to be actively protected by the legal people of their individual respective organizations. If AWOL, that's the weak link, IMO, not the reporters although I was disappointed to observe what you describe late in the night. OTOH, earlier, didn't reporters and film crews rush between protesters and charging police? Heartstopping.

http://www.rcfp.org/media-coalition-protests-police-treatment-reporters-during-ferguson-events

PRESS RELEASE

Media coalition protests police treatment of reporters during Ferguson events
Press Release | August 15, 2014

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press led a coalition of 48 national media organizations that sent a protest letter objecting to the treatment of reporters during the recent events in Ferguson, Mo., that followed the police shooting of Michael Brown.

The letter was sent to the heads of the city and county police, as well as the state highway patrol.

"Officers on the ground must understand that gathering news and recording police activities are not crimes," the letter states. "The actions in Ferguson demonstrate a lack of training among local law enforcement in the protections required by the First Amendment as well as the absence of respect for the role of newsgatherers. We implore police leadership to rectify this failing to ensure that these incidents do not occur again."

The letter pointed out that the Department of Justice and several federal courts have all made clear that photographing police officers who are performing their duties is protected by the First Amendment. This right applies equally to the news media and the general public.

The 48 organizations joining the effort are: The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, ABC, Inc., ALM Media, LLC, American Society of News Editors, AOL-Huffington Post, The Associated Press, Association of Alternative Newsmedia, The Association of American Publishers, Inc., Bloomberg L.P., Cable News Network, Inc., CBS Broadcasting Inc., Courthouse News Service, The Daily Beast Company LLC, The E.W. Scripps Company, First Amendment Coalition, First Look Media, Fox News Network LLC, Freedom of the Press Foundation, Hearst Corporation, Inter American Press Association, Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University, Journal Communications, Inc., The Kansas City Star, LIN Media, The McClatchy Company, Media Consortium, Media Law Resource Center, MediaNews Group, Inc., d/b/a Digital First Media, National Geographic, The National Press Club, National Press Photographers Association, National Public Radio, Inc., NBCUniversal Media, LLC, The New Yorker, Newspaper Association of America, The Newspaper Guild - CWA, North Jersey Media Group Inc., Online News Association, Radio Television Digital News Association, Reporters Without Borders, The Seattle Times Company, Society of Professional Journalists, Student Press Law Center, Time Inc., Tribune Publishing Company, Tully Center for Free Speech, VICE Media, and The Washington Post.

RELATED: http://www.dailyreportonline.com/home/id=1202667267019/Atlanta-Occupy-Lawyers-To-Observe-Protests-in-Ferguson?mcode=1202617074542&curindex=1&slreturn=20140719174725

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/08/19/story-power-country-ferguson-institutionalized-racism-and-militarization-police

[RobertEarl]

29. That's what is perplexing

The members of the press know they are in their rights to not be moved, yet they turned and ran. The press knows they will be legally cared for, but they did not stand up for their rights.

I long to see them be as brave as many of the citizens. Once they do the cops will be brought under control. ASAP. Tonight, maybe?

As for the cops who are violating their right to assemble; Those cops should all resign and get a job as garbage men.

[WinkyDink]

43. They need the Big Talking Heads there, the Tweetys, the Andreas. Send Matt "Where in the world is?"

Lauer.

The reporting world has to up ITS game.

[RobertEarl]

45. The press there just needs to stand its ground

No more moving back. No more shutting off the cams. Stay and fight, press. Stand up for your rights and bring us the news.

[WinkyDink]

56. I suspect they are obeying more than just the police.

[ecstatic]

46. Tweety is too busy giving the cop the benefit of doubt

I saw him on Monday. Don't know if he changed his tune today.