General Discussion

marmar

(77,073 posts) Mon Apr 8, 2013, 07:46 AM Apr 2013

Gangsters for capitalism

Exxon Mobil is sure doing its best to prevent journalists from covering the recent oil spill from its Pegasus pipeline in Mayflower, Ark. Some reporters say the oil giant has even threatened to have them arrested for merely entering the spill site.

Unfortunately for journalists, a pliant county sheriff’s office has shown it’s all too willing to help Exxon out.

Michael Hibblen, the news director for NPR affiliate KUAR, recounted to Mother Jones what happened to him and other media personnel when they attempted to visit the spill site with Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Wednesday:

It was less than 90 seconds before suddenly the sheriff’s deputies started yelling that all the media people had to leave, that ExxonMobil had decided they don’t want you here, you have to leave. They even referred to it as “Exxon Media”…Some reporters were like, “Who made this decision? Who can we talk to?” The sheriff’s deputies started saying, “You have to leave. You have 10 seconds to leave or you will be arrested.”

InsideClimate News reporter Lisa Song also said she was threatened with arrest after entering the command center for the cleanup operation while trying to locate representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. After being told by Exxon spokeswoman Kim Jordan to leave, she was approached by a second person who told her, “You’ve been asked by security to leave. If you don’t you’ll be arrested for criminal trespass.” ...........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/exxon_threatens_journalists_with_arrest_for_entering_arkansas_oil_spill_sit/?ln