I’m often critical of journalists. If anything when I do criticize them I usually feel I wasn’t as harsh as I should have been. However I’ll be the first to say when they are out there actually doing what we want journalists to do, providing solid reporting they by god should have the right to so so without being intimidated, or even shot even with ‘only’ rubber bullets by LE. You expect to see such intimidation in other countries but not in the United States. It happens, but the current mess in Los Angeles has Team Trump engaging in what I say is a deliberate strategy to ensure only RWNJ outlets are able to report on goings on.
I happened to see a news segment from reporter Lauren Tomasi who works for for an Australian outlet describing the situation she was seeing. She was alone in the middle of a wide street (with her cameraman filming) describing what was going on a hundred yards or so behind her. It was a line of LE assembling to I guess push protesters back. Pretty typical stuff for protests. Much closer, on the sidewalk maybe 20 yards or so away was a small group of LE decked out in tactical gear. The reporter was talking about how rubber bullets had already been used, and suddenly one of the nearby LE assholes shot her with a rubber bullet! Fortunately he aimed low and hit her in the back of the leg. Still it was intentional. Deliberate. And totally uncalled for as there were NO protesters anywhere close.
Even this ole jarhead was shocked at so blatant an action. That was replaced by a feeling of being stupid for not knowing things would get to such a point. What really has my blood boiling is this article from People Magazine that talks about how many journalists have been targeted with rubber bullets during these protests. It starts out telling the story of New York Post photojournalist Toby Callahan who was shot in the head with a rubber bullet fired from roughly a hundred yards away. At first blush you’d think someone from the NYP would be safe but the Murdoch publication has taken Trump to task more often than you might realize.
What’s important to me is this. The shot came from a long enough distance away that while it caused a nasty injury it wasn’t a far worse result. Rubber bullets don’t start out with the same velocity as regular rifle or shotgun rounds and therefore lose velocity more quickly. At close range a head shot from a rubber bullet can be lethal, or if not cause life altering traumatic brain injury. However the fact this guy took a head shot tells me two critical things. First the shooter intended to strike that guy taking pictures in the head! Second, that shooter was an accomplished marksman who had practiced with those rubber bullets. Basically, the shooter tried hard and worse succeeded in shooting a journalist in the head. I’m sure the shooter knew it wouldn’t be lethal but that wasn’t the point. The point was to intimidate.
Please, I urge you. Check out the link. Even if you don’t read the actual article at least watch the video clips. This is only the beginning of what’s to come.
The linked article tells us at least 20 journalists have been shot by rubber bullets covering these protests. Appalling as it would be I could see how one or two who were talking face to face with protesters might get hit. But TWENTY? And with many (if not most) not being close to any protesters? I say it’s part of a deliberate strategy by Team Trump to alter the coverage of these protests. To try to drive away NON RWNJ journalists/outlets in order to paint a very different picture than actual reality.
I saw Lawrence O’Donnell talk about the area where this is taking place. It’s a few blocks of office buildings that house a lot of government functions. It is NOT a small spot in L.A. any tourist would go to see. Even Los Angelinos don’t go there unless they have some specific task to tend to at some office or govt. agency or a court appearance. No touristy “this happened HERE”, or snazzy restaurants or iconic bar where certain people hang out or used to. Just a few blocks of boring office buildings. A quite small place no one would know was there if it weren’t in the news right now.
However Team Trump and his pals at Fox and other RWNJ outlets would have everyone believe LA is engulfed in death and destruction. The whole sprawling city is on fire, or under assault and being reduced to rubble! Sadly, many only get their news from Fox and other RWNJ outlets and believe this bullshit. Other outlets have actually provided some perspective. Sure, many of them hype the bad stuff too but if you pay attention except for those few blocks the rest of the city is going about its business. If protesters weren’t continuing to try and shut down the 401 freeway next to the protest zone most wouldn’t notice at all.
Trump does NOT want accurate reporting. He’s looking for an excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act. and impose Martial Law. That means painting picture on TV and computer screens of rioting that makes the Rodney King riots (which were a BFD for much of LA) a picnic. Having journalists on site and nearby showing it’s actually a small area, that while there’s been some vandalism it’s not been that much, and the crowds protesting are mostly peaceful simply won’t do.
It’s not like Trump’s goons haven’t manhandled journalists in the past. However, targeting twenty or more with rubber bullets in such a short period of time and in such a small place is no accident. Nor is shooting one in the head, even if from far enough away not to be fatal accidental. It’s a STAY AWAY AND LET MY HAND PICKED OUTLETS REPORT ON THIS!!!
This my friends is what happens when iconic, major outlets succumb to pressure like CBS is prepared to do in order to get their merger with Paramount approved. Or settling with Trump financially because he’s butt-hurt over them not sucking up to him. Those in the executive suites and boardrooms are safe, counting their millions they will get as the price of their stock goes up. For those out doing the work? Like Trump they don’t f**king care.
However it’s clear to me a decision has been made to escalate the war on journalism from one of words and lawsuits to shooting journalists in the streets. Sure, for now it’s “only” rubber bullets and but for one incident in the chest or legs but that will I fear quickly change. Had Ms. Tomasi been shot in the head (even with a rubber bullet) at that range then if not dead she’d be in a trauma ward fighting for her life. So don’t be surprised if that winds up being the case with one or more reporters. Trump, Noem et al will put out weak tea “it was only a rubber bullet and we’re really sorry’ bullshit but mark my words. They WANT to kill at least a one or two journalists.
To send a message. And the message will be ‘When we say back off and let Fox do the reporting back off. Or die.”
Your words “… Trump does NOT want accurate reporting. He’s looking for an excuse to invoke the Insurrection Act…” gets it in one.
Being hit by a rubber bullet is like being hit by a 250 mph baseball.
Sure it’s better than being hit by a real bullet, but it’s still a lot of kinetic energy in one spot.
Maybe (and I assure you, I’m not intending any snark) the journalists being hit by these bullets should start sporting huge “bandages” (or maxi-pads–since that’s what it looked like those GOP cretins were sporting on their ears at the convention last year) on the spots they were hit. Drumpf got away with it until he got tired of it presumably messing up his combover (then, as if by magic, there was no sign of any injury–much less the loss of a chunk of ear and surgical repair). At least, the journalists would have a REAL reason for their use.