Angry counterprotesters far outnumbered the small band of far-right demonstrators who turned out in Washington, and then quickly dispersed, on the anniversary of the violent Charlottesville rally.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2018/08/12/us/politics/charlottesville-va-protest-unite-the-right.html
At the same time, some saw in the wall-to-wall media coverage a kind of public relations victory for the far right. “They are getting international coverage and profiles, and the bottom line is that exposure equals importance,” said Brian H. Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.
The white supremacist rally police escort and barricade protection were profoundly clear messages to the country and communities of color. One message was cops serve and protect white supremacy unlike non-white communities. Another message was supportive coverage by traditional media.
Contrast the police protection received by white supremacists last week to the lack of protection and brutality meted out members of Black Lives Matter, a movement to increase awareness and end discriminatory law enforcement.
Reportedly members of Black Lives Matter, many identified as Black Identity Extremists by the FBI, are harassed, spied upon and trolled by the US government. Why aren’t their rights protected?
What I got from the NYT coverage was unfiltered dissemination of white supremacist beliefs. There was little balance in the article as it legitmized their beliefs.
Over the last few years, there have been larger marches by black groups that didn’t get traditional media coverage let alone coverage of a few dozen black people marching.
There is no genocide of white people. White supremacists exploit race groups to spread fear among white people. At the heart of white supremacy is the belief in white superiority and the inferiority of other races particularly those of color. It denies that structural racism led to white patriarchy, not genetic superiority or white values, morality or ethics.
Whites lives have always mattered. Why do many whites who say All Lives Matter can’t admit Black Lives Matter?
Feels like it was yesterday when the battle of Charlottesville happened. Seeing that car run over protestors, those WSTs beating up that teacher, and hearing the “both sides” speech from 45 made my blood boil.
I shouldn’t be surprised anymore, but that one year anniversary event really is proof positive that inequality prevails in this society.
Hi Curtis, you get it. Some people might say wth is she talking about? It was a small march, proof of dwindling support. That small march got positive publicity nationally by most major news outlet. I have yet to read an article out by MSM that lays out the horrors of the ws/kkk. Another thing the groups keep changing their names, now they’re alt-right but they are still the klansman. America is a pro in the use of appealing wrapping paper to conceal its racist ideals.
Thanks, Angela. People don’t realize that it’s not always about the number of marchers or protestors. It’s about the (mainstream) exposure one can get. Roland Martin and Oprah Winfrey learned that the hard way by having WS on their shows since those guests knew the exposure could legitimize their points of view. That’s also the same logic as to why certain activists, scholars, or social theorists who are intelligent in their views for equality don’t get screen time.
That’s not surprising about the MSM not condemning these groups because many of them secretly agree with their ideologies. Media isn’t just about entertainment or information (I use that term loosely), but it’s about setting an agenda from whoever owns it. Sure, they’ll cover something if it’s too big to ignore like school shootings, but even then those actions become minimized.
Those name changes are just the media organizations hitting the reset button when it comes to addressing racism. I remember after Charlottesville when I saw a clip of Bigot O’Racist being featured on Sean Klanity’s show and conflated white supremacy being the new term for white privilege even though the former term has been around much longer than the latter.
Curtis, it’s like a validation of my sanity to meet someone who understands.
Thank you and I even feel likewise talking to someone who gets it, too.
Small media networks that report and work together to amplify.
Exactly. That’s why I’ve been an advocate of (reputable) independent media whether it’s news or entertainment. I’m glad to find some sources that do their research while also not being afraid to tell the truth.
The devils know that they are have lost the”power” they had and now running amok.
They are losing power. Having a deranged animal in the WH is creating chaos. Where there is chaos opportunities abound.
The devils ARE chaos, Black have be spiritual and stay on code when dealing with them.