Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28 • Hacker News Board

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#181

Post by 52-6F-62 » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:17 PM UTC

georgeburdell wrote: post #75

@dang are you making an exception for these posts given the current situation? Although important, I do not see anything of technological interest. Any post about the protests are going to incite flame wars and make HN indistinguishable from any other social website right now.

Personally speaking only, but I am a tech worker in the larger media sphere—mainly publishing with some titles over a century old.

These matters strike very close to home.

edit: I wanted to add that I have a lot of respect for most of the people in this community and the diversity of perspectives it provides. I'm very interested in hearing what people have to say here.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#182

Post by colechristensen » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:18 PM UTC

abolishme wrote: post #50

Important to note: I have seen not one example of a non-press person claiming to be press and I've been watching all the livestreams constantly.

Just a piece of data, a cameraman attacked by someone posing as a medic: https://twitter.com/Lucas_Jackson_/status/126708396851348684...

Any news reports of people posing as reporters might be suppressed by newsrooms themselves as to not encourage copycats or get the idea out there that reporters might not be reporters, that is entirely unsubstantiated conjecture though.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#183

Post by jascii » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:18 PM UTC

drocer88 wrote: post #157

jascii wrote: post #133

Disclaimer: I am a bleeding heart liberal and this may filter my observations. I have been to a few rallies/vigils/marches lately and all incidences of violence that I have witnessed either in person or through media has been instigated by the police. As far as I know,every documented case where a formerly peaceful crowd turns into chaos has been started with police shooting pepperspray, teargas, or whatever into the…

What events were you at? Everything is on video these days somewhere. Can you point us to an online video example that you were at?

Sorry, for the safety of myself, my fellow demonstrators, and my family I am not going to state the actual events I was at.

Others have already shown examples, however here is an news article covering some incidents: https://www.newsweek.com/fbi-asks-evidence-individuals-incit...

I have so far not seen any evidence of the opposite taking place, I would certainly appreciate some counter examples.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#184

Post by simonw » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:19 PM UTC

99_00 wrote: post #160

simonw wrote: post #22

Since this is happening simultaneously in many different cities around the country, I have to wonder if there are private Facebook or WhatsApp or Signal groups where police members are talking about this trend. I'd very much like to see those conversations.

I think you are on the right track, in so far as we need to understand what the constant across many different cities around the country. Here is what I think (I know I will be burned at the steak for this): The media market is the constant. Media organizations and reporters are incentivized to get the most extreme and sensationalistic footage, so they are taking more risks and crossing more lines than every before.

If your theory holds, there should be footage out there showing media taking risks. Either from the media themselves or from bystanders.

I've not seen any footage that reflects that - and there is plenty of footage of police attacks on reporters at this point.

Reporters know that these attacks are happening - it's their job to know what's going on! They don't want to be attacked, so they aren't taking risks.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#185

Post by jonlucc » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:19 PM UTC

jascii wrote: post #133

Disclaimer: I am a bleeding heart liberal and this may filter my observations. I have been to a few rallies/vigils/marches lately and all incidences of violence that I have witnessed either in person or through media has been instigated by the police. As far as I know,every documented case where a formerly peaceful crowd turns into chaos has been started with police shooting pepperspray, teargas, or whatever into the…

I can weigh in a bit on what the police claim happened here in Indianapolis. They won't account for all of their CS deployments, which I think is crazy, but they did address why it started the other day (Saturday?). Their claim is that what they saw was some police inside the city/county building and a single person started hitting the glass on the building. Simultaneously, "previously peaceful" protesters started locking arms at one end of the street, blocking emergency vehicle ingress, so they let loose a bunch of (13 year expired)_CS gas.

Is that believable? Sure, but locking arms is also a common thing during protests. The road was already blocked off and cars weren't going through. Also, they fired CS into crowds of protesters blocks away, claiming that they think the protesters are coordinating by secure communications and instantaneously turning violent across the city. Most of it seems like bullshit, and even if it's all true, locking arms on one side of a closed street is not at all unusual. They should have arrested the one guy hitting the glass and let the protest continue.

By the way, they used this event to justify the curfews that haven't been raised since then.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#186

Post by exclusiv » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:21 PM UTC

curiousgal wrote: post #73

runawaybottle wrote: post #9

I just want to say that we have to do the things necessary to differentiate ourselves from places like China or Saudi Arabia. Nothing is implicit.

I am honestly rejoicing at the sight of Americans discovering they are not really as free or as better than the rest of the world as they think they are. Maybe this will be the kindle that will help make things right for the entire population. I know the majority of HN readers are in the top 10% of the population and don't face the same struggles as others.

> I am honestly rejoicing at the sight of Americans discovering they are not really as free or as better than the rest of the world as they think they are

Americans are still freer than the rest of the world in general. None of this changes that. "As better" - still hasn't changed either if by better you mean better off. If you're born in the US, in general, you're in a position to be better off than most of the world. These two things also apply to most European countries. We aren't going to apologize for it. I understand if American patriotism and confidence puts off other countries. It's not for everyone. Different cultures have different values. It's ok.

Sad we have to address police corruption and brutality, but it's part of the process. Many nations don't have the ability for civilians to enact change. It's core to our foundation. We've done it many times before.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#187

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:23 PM UTC

curiousgal wrote: post #73

runawaybottle wrote: post #9

I just want to say that we have to do the things necessary to differentiate ourselves from places like China or Saudi Arabia. Nothing is implicit.

I am honestly rejoicing at the sight of Americans discovering they are not really as free or as better than the rest of the world as they think they are. Maybe this will be the kindle that will help make things right for the entire population. I know the majority of HN readers are in the top 10% of the population and don't face the same struggles as others.

[deleted]

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#188

Post by TheOtherHobbes » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:23 PM UTC

gedy wrote: post #142

jonlucc wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's possible, but also, there's precedent from 2014 in Ferguson. Several members of credentialed media were arrested and assaulted to various degrees. Pretty much nothing happened by way of punishment other than a settlement from the DoJ saying they couldn't kettle people anymore, enforced by what is now Barr's department. Any officer paying attention would know you won't be punished unless you act particularly egre…

> you won't be punished unless you act particularly egregiously like the one officer in Louisville reassigned to desk duty (big whoop) Isn't this honestly largely due to the police union rules and contacts, which (unions) are a key part of leftist labor relations?

Don't you think it's curious that only the police are allowed to have these super-effective unions with literal stay-out-of-jail clauses in their contracts - while Amazon workers who want proper toilet breaks will simply be fired?

Does that answer your question?

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#189

Post by linsomniac » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:24 PM UTC

hmcdona1 wrote: post #89

imperio59 wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where have you seen cops forcing weapons into the hands of someone on the ground? I haven't seen that. Definitely seen excessive use of force against seemingly peaceful protesters, but context is everything, and a 10 second snippet does not tell the full story of the interactions between that protester and that cop for the 45 minutes leading up to those 10 seconds. I tend to reserve my judgement on those types of vid…

There is definitely a video from a day or two ago of a cop on top of a protestor with his hand pinned to the ground the cop then moves his baton under the hand of the protester and keeps it pinned on top. He proceeds to then punch his hand trying to appear as if he wants him to let go. Also who gives a shit if they just got verbally harassed for an hour. I don’t get to lose my shit and delete a project because someon…

Nurses get verbally abused and harassed far more commonly than you might imagine, in extremely stressful, typically 12 hour shifts, and you just don't hear about them responding with brutality. Source: My wife and many of her friends are nurses.

Re: Police attacks against journalists across the U.S. since May 28

#190

Post by jascii » Tue, Jun 02, 2020, 7:24 PM UTC

TheChaplain wrote: post #178

jascii wrote: post #133

Disclaimer: I am a bleeding heart liberal and this may filter my observations. I have been to a few rallies/vigils/marches lately and all incidences of violence that I have witnessed either in person or through media has been instigated by the police. As far as I know,every documented case where a formerly peaceful crowd turns into chaos has been started with police shooting pepperspray, teargas, or whatever into the…

From all the videos/pictures circulating I see both sides doing cheap-shots to escalate the situation and prove that their narrative is the right one. But when will people take a step back and start asking themselves; who profits on this turmoil?

Do you have any concrete examples where the protesters instigated the violence? I have not been able to find any.