This action is over (but is the AP lying?)
The action depicted in the Denver Post's live video stream is over. The last police vehicle to leave was a very large police bus, escorted by about eight police vehicles with sirens blaring. The Denver Post has turned their rooftop camera toward the civic center park (where the confrontation started), and away from the area of the standoff.
For those unfamiliar with the intersection, this is where 15th street in downtown Denver meets Colfax, just a block or so west of Broadway. Colfax and Broadway are two main streets that cross Denver and intersect just south of the downtown area.
Some of us have found it interesting that the police set up a trap for the anti-capitalist marchers immediately in front of the Denver Newspaper Agency building, thereby insuring that there would be mainstream media coverage of their massive show of force.
Here is some of that mainstream media coverage:
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Woman says 'no reason' for 15th Street arrests
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/25/no-provocation-no-reas...
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Rooftop footage of Downtown Protesters
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/videos/detail/rooftop-footage-downtown-...
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Demonstrations turn violent at night
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/25/demonstrations-turn-vi...
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Lawmaker pepper-sprayed at Democratic convention
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=715105
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Police, protesters clash as Dems convene in Denver
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hksHDv1i55R2qYI6dkmMm10uxZ0AD92PO34G0
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Kovic preaches calm to protesters
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_10301867
Lets take a moment to analyze these last two articles. The AP story records this about Ron Kovic:
Ron Kovic, a paralyzed Vietnam veteran and anti-war activist who lead a peaceful march the day before, hurried to the scene in his wheelchair from his downtown hotel after he heard about the confrontation. "We must remain nonviolent. We must have the high moral ground," he told the crowd.
"There's a powerful police presence here. The chill of 1968 is in the air of Denver," said Kovic, whose story was chronicled in the book and movie "Born on the Fourth of July."
These appear to be the words of a total pacifist, rebuking the protesters for their attitude. But consider the last link, to a Denver Post article. Kovics is quoted:
"I'm here to encourage dialogue, but we will not be silenced," he said.
Notice how selective quotes can change the entire tone of someone's comments? If someone is intent upon having Ron Kovics chide the protesters, they can leave out all the strong statements of solidarity that he made. But such a report is a lie of omission.
So how must we evaluate this sentence in the same AP article that we already know is biased: Some of the protesters threw bags containing a colored liquid at police... ??
Where does such an accusation come from? Remember this:
Some city council members claimed protesters plan to toss bags of feces or urine at police... ??
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17281184/detail.html
We're left to wonder, what color were these "bags containing a colored liquid"?
Why didn't the reporter photograph the remnants of these alleged liquid missiles?
Did the bags break, or remain intact? If there is photographic or video evidence, why don't we have a photo or a link?
How did the reporter hear of these alleged deeds -- from the police? Could this be a tall tale manufactured by a cop who noticed fruit drink pouches dropped during the arrests?
(for example...)
http://softduit.com/images/Blog_Folders/article_images/SquirtingCapriSun...
Or (if indeed, "bags" existed), was it possibly plastic bags filled with small quantities of vinegar, which protesters have used over a period of decades to counteract the effects of tear gas?
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Do you recall the tall tale of homicidal victims during Katrina, shooting at helicopters? The rumor was so outrageous and threatening that it spread like wildfire, with numerous reporters repeating it as gospel. Turns out it wasn't a true story at all, and people were hurt (and perhaps died) because journalists were careless with the truth.
AP reporters ought to avoid repeating incendiary accusations unless they're willing to back them up with a full explanation, and specific details on where the story originated. To uncritically repeat inflammatory accusations without providing evidence is the worst sort of journalism.
But then, that's what we've come to expect from all too many mainstream journalists, in New Orleans and in Denver.
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