Double standards cited amid armed protest in Oregon

[n2doc]

Social media mocks light treatment of group which occupied a US federal building in protest of judge ruling.

Anealla Safdar

When the occupation started, many decried the lack of coverage across the media...

jeremy scahill ✔@jeremyscahill
Not a single cable network is covering this Oregon militia situation
11:34 PM - 2 Jan 2016

Sahand @Sahand_1
150 domestic terrorists take over a fed building. Can only assume there's wall-to-wall cable news coverage, right? Oh. #OregonUnderAttack
11:41 PM - 2 Jan 2016

and later on, social media users lashed out at what they called double standards in the media's narrative and characterisation of the armed protest compared to other recent events.

Kim Kane @KimKane1
Pay close attention to what mass media decides to cover - and "how" they cover it. It matters #OregonUnderAttack
1:38 AM - 3 Jan 2016

TariqTouré @TariqToure
Hey @ABC I fixed that typo for you #OregonStandoff #OregonUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/9gcTDUCVjh

more
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/01/double-standards-cited-armed-protest-oregon-160103081113265.html

[Thinkingabout]

1. IMO,it should not be covered by any news media, turn off the power, communiations, wifi, etc, no

food deliveries, no water, no gas, no nothing. When their phones lose power and no communications then perhaps they can come to their senses. I just wonder how many are on disability and other social nets, this incident should be a reason to cease any assistance. This goes to community programs which assist the poor, food banks, etc.

[Lizzie Poppet]

2. This just broke, really.

There won't be much coverage w/o footage...the networks don't like presenting news w/o decent footage these days. It will take time for news crews other than the handful that were sent by in-state outlets when this mess began to get on the scene, especially since it's below freezing and snowing in Burns. Burns is pretty far out in the middle of nowhere in sparsely populated Eastern Oregon, and the roads from any population center (like Portland) will not be easy right now.

[Shrike47]

3. Burns (population 2,800) is the nearest town, 50 miles away. Better to ignore them.

[Marty McGraw]

6. I think it does better

Shining a light on these KochRoaches for everybody to see. Do not expect the *major* media outlets to provide the proper narrative on the matter and who needs them with all the independent sources around we are even seeing here at DU. If we don't shine a light properly on this matter, believe me the other side will run the topic.

Keep Steering Internet Access into the Public Domain!

[Ned Flanders]

9. Ignorning them emboldens them...

...as we saw when Oath Keepers from the Bundy party killed two cops in Vegas, draping the Gadsden flag over them, in order to start "the revolution." Large parts of southern Nevada now have no law enforcement presence, because the BLM refuses to send their officers into such a hostile area, after multiple death threats and gun brandishings.

They are terrorists. Starve them out, then use anti-terror laws on them.

[Babel_17]

13. Wow, this was news to me, had to google it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Las_Vegas_shootings

Sure, nobody like these mad dog killers now, but before the killings ...

During the standoff, Jerad Miller had made interviews with other protesters at the ranch,[25][26] and was also interviewed by CNN, NBC News affiliate KRNV-DT, and other news stations, during which he said:

I feel sorry for any federal agents that want to come in here and try to push us around or anything like that. I really don't want violence toward them, but if they're going to come bring violence to us, well, if that's the language they want to speak, we'll learn it.

I'm dismayed I'm only learning this now. Thanks for the wake-up!

[Chasstev365]

4. The next time some Right Winger says something about the "Liberal media"

SHOVE THIS STORY IN THEIR FACE! Unfricken believable that they're not covering it!

[NutmegYankee]

5. Why should this story have massive coverage?

It's a group of loser racists who occupied a deserted building in the middle of nowhere. Giving their temper tantrum 24/7 coverage just legitimizes their pathetic movement.

[Marty McGraw]

7. The monied interests backing

their cause will make sure the 'Proper' narrative takes hold countered or not. Let's make sure that doesn't happen. We are smart enough to frame it honestly and not sit on our hands.

and believe me, if it weren't for the big funded interest behind them, I would say the same thing you are.

This is Different


On edit: The PTB's do have us at a 'Damned if you do, Damned if you don't' moment so much these days. This is a big reason how empires in the past have fallen. Deceitful in intent, contrived, Endless and frivolous squabbles amongst ourselves.

I still believe shining a light into wrong doings (but, yeah, not 24/7) will bear fruit more times than not....

Still Hope

[pnwmom]

18. I agree. We don't need wall to wall coverage to turn these nuts into bigshots

at least in their minds.

[Babel_17]

8. We can't have our federal government deserving such scorn and contempt

Have the DOJ enunciate what penalties are being risked. Get a warrant and start searching their records and abodes. Freeze the assets of those occupying the federal property.

[Marty McGraw]

11. I so wish we had

a psy-ops branch to break up bozo circus's like this. They were used at occupy at the monied backer's behest. When do the people get their Justice?

[pnwmom]

19. How do you know that warrants haven't already been obtained?

Just because the government isn't letting them turn this into a 3 ring circus doesn't mean they aren't taking any actions.

[Babel_17]

21. Merely suggesting what should be done

And those suggestions are an alternative to a circus. And afaik there's been no statement laying down the penalties these clowns are risking. Unlike how law enforcement warns against rioting, illegal demonstrations/marches, or confrontational civil disobedience, at critical moments.

These people are connected to the implied threat of murder at the Bundy compound. The public would benefit, imo, from hearing that such serious threats are taken seriously. The public would benefit from some follow through regarding that, and with resolution as soon as possible.

[BillZBubb]

27. Action? You mean like they did at Bundy's ranch?

I'm sure the wingers are shaking in their boots.

[pnwmom]

28. The Bundys are in prison, probably because they ended up

on the Federal radar. Like other members of organized crime, they weren't arrested for their original crimes, but they ended up going down anyway.

[BillZBubb]

33. That's funny because several of the Bundy's are in Oregon now.

Perhaps they escaped prison too? Your argument is an incredibly weak one.

Most of the Bundy's are not in prison. And the ones that are not were guilty of crimes before, but not punished as they should have been. They are now making more mischief.

The government caved then and I expect the government to cave again. After all, white right wingers can't be subject to the strict, immediate law and order required of other Americans. That would upset too many people. We can't have that.

[pnwmom]

34. I was wrong about the dad because he and the son share the same first name.

I agree that they should both be in prison and I don't know why they weren't prosecuted for what the did.

[bread_and_roses]

10. Those that say "ignore" are missing the point

What would be the coverage if the armed occupiers were not white?

And the reporter thanks him for taking time to talk! And what do they want to accomplish? I am dumbstruck.

Not to mention that the public has the right to know about something like this - to say "ignore them" is to put them in the same category as a sulky five-year old. These are armed adults who - as I understand - have declared an intention to respond to any attempt to remove them by "defending" themselves. We should ignore this?

[Phlem]

12. "Those that say "ignore" are missing the point"

Spot On!

[passiveporcupine]

14. As I said in another thread on this

Send in the Drones. Make it a new reality TV show!

[pnwmom]

17. Why give these people the coverage they are dying to have? There are no lives

at risk. There is no reason the authorities can't wait for an opportune time to act.

[bread_and_roses]

23. If you don't get it ....

.... nothing else I can say is going to penetrate.

[pnwmom]

24. I understand that the coverage would be different. And that would be wrong.

But the solution isn't to do the wrong thing in this case, too. The solution is to stop treating black people like they are threats.

And I'm not suggesting that the government ignore these militia people. Just bide their time and not run in with guns blazing.

But I hope this doesn't become a 24-hour reality show on TV.

[bread_and_roses]

25. The thread is about MEDIA coverage

These people are armed. They ARE a threat

The media story - with implications beyond, obviously - is about the disparity in media treatment of unarmed people of color protesting and armed white men basically saying "bring it on."

The treatment of people of color taking to the streets to exercise a first amendment right of assembly and protest has already occur ed - were there no coverage of the Bundy clan action then we couldn't compare, could we? And how does that serve us?

That is the most important story.

As well, as a citizen I want to know - and the media has the right and I'd say obligation to report - that armed white people have occupied a Federal building. That is newsworthy - and I want to know that these people are out there, what they think, what they are willing to do. And I want to know what the response will be. So that we can compare the response to the responses we've seen to protests by UNARMED people of color (as well as other non-violent protests such as OCCUPY, environmentalists, peace groups, etc.).

Since when do we have media blackouts in this country? If one can call for a media blackout of something like this then what other media blackouts can be justified? It's not just a slippery slope, it's profoundly undemocratic to even suggest such a thing.

[pnwmom]

26. They aren't a threat. No one is there but deer and raccoons to threaten.

You are right of course about how the media treats non-violent black people. But that doesn't mean they should be making a huge deal about this situation. They've taken over a little cabin out in nowhere and are threatening no one. Their AIM is media coverage -- I'm glad they're not getting it.

[Volaris]

39. I think it's about more than just the media coverage..

This double standard is about White Privilege.

If Occupy or god forbid Black Lives Matter had armed themselves this way, and then went and had a sit-in on FEDERAL PROPERTY, they would have been declared Terrorists of the most dangerous kind, and someone would have ordered a hellfire missile put through the front fucking window, Posse Comitatus be dammned (USAPATRIOT ACT and all that good jazz).

No, they shouldn't get the media coverage they want so badly, I totally agree with that, and yes, until they start shooting there ISNT any physical danger to anyone really so let them starve for a while and see what happens.

But don't think for a MOMENT that if these people were not just a few shades darker they wouldn't be on a plane to Cuba already, because we both know you're smarter than that .

[pnwmom]

40. I've never suggested that black people wouldn't be getting a very different treatment. nt

[Volaris]

42. I didn't think that you were suggesting that.

I was offering up a comment on the larger, racial double standard (which you quite clearly see is there)
vs the less important double standard attached to how the media does its job.
I don't think the media should be anywhere near the place, REGARDLESS of who is in that building...law enforcement has a job to do just now and doesn't need a pack of entertainers passing themselves off as journalists making that job harder.
Nothing newsworthy is going to happen until Law Enforcement decides to start serving warrants; until then, it's just about getting us to watch the Pretty Lights, and that's not a game I'm willing to play anymore.
I would rather READ about the before, during, and after the fact from Salon or Harpers or even Rolling Stone...you know, ACTUAL JOURNALISTIC PUBLICATIONS lol.

[LanternWaste]

41. I don't see any valid or objective reason to predicate a law enforcement response

I don't see any valid or objective reason to predicate a law enforcement response on whether the perpetrators may or may not wish for press coverage.

[MisterP]

29. perhaps "Ethan Couch-level coddling" takes longer to type?

[Chemisse]

31. If they were Muslims, this would be the biggest 'attack' since 9/11!

If they were black, it would be a 'gang' uprising.

While I don't want this to be glorified, it should at least be condemned with as much intensity as a non-white action would be.

[okasha]

36. If they were First Americans

they would be dead by now.

[passiveporcupine]

15. They have everything they need to stay awhile

except maybe enough food. They have wifi...can that be blocked? Can all communications be blocked so they cannot see the news or connect with anyone outside?

[Pakhet]

20. yes they could be block and no they won't be eom

[pnwmom]

16. There is one significant difference. No innocent people's lives are at risk.

There are no hostages or any onlookers nearby who could be hurt.

So this isn't the kind of emergency we've had in urban areas, where time is of the essence. We can take our time and wait this out, without turning these people into martyrs.

[Babel_17]

22. I think they want to have the government demonstrate either a lack of resolve, or make them martyrs*

Last edited Sun Jan 3, 2016, 06:55 PM - Edit history (1)

Yes, we don't want to make them martyrs but it seems obvious that other clowns of a similar stripe take inspiration from these illegal acts. It would be helpful, imo, to demonstrate the downside of being such a monumental pain in the ass type of lawbreaker. Especially when they're tied to those who try to get their way by aiming weapons at government agents heads.

What clowns are now organizing because of this open defiance? I don't know, but I suspect there are quite a few feeling the urge to defy our seemingly (to them) toothless Federal government.

You and I know that their worlds are at serious risk of turning to crap for the foreseeable future, but in the bubble they reside, no, that's not apparent.

*martyrs as in led away in cuffs after the government looks like bullies by disproportionate response**. Not martyrs as in life in prison after killing a Fed, or martyrs as in being at the other end of a sniper rifle. Though I don't rule out one or two willing to get into a shootout.

** So yeah, we don't want the kind of circus you mentioned in another post.

Edit: left out "they" in "the bubble they reside".

[Warren DeMontague]

30. Yeah, it's odd what sorts of stuff will get you a SWAT team, and what won't, in this country.

http://www.cbs46.com/story/30727010/former-habersham-county-deputy-found-not-guilty-of-charges-related-to-baby-bou-bou-case

[Jake Stern]

32. Let's be honest, shall we?

If the group were Muslims led by Ahmed Al-Bundi instead of a "militia" led by Ammon Bundy there would be:

1. A dozen Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies on the scene pronto. Possibly the National Guard as well.

2. Crews from every major network swarming the place.

[BillZBubb]

35. And the same people inside the building now would be screaming for the government to kill them all.

As would all those supporting the Bundy bunch. And the government probably would in short order move to retake the place by force.

[alp227]

37. To be fair, the cable networks are far understaffed the Saturday after New Year's Day.

Especially at 11 in the evening (Eastern time?) They just don't have the budget to send reporters out to rural Oregon at that time of the day in the year.

[spanone]

38. america's 'news' media has been compromised...it's all trump all the time

why does anyone marvel over the fact that trump has spent so little money? the media has been his sugar daddy when it comes to airtime....

24/7 except when 'lockdown' is on m$nbc