Loop 21 Runs Excerpts From Shawn Williams SPJ Address
TheLoop21.com published excerpts from my March 23rd address to the Society of Professional Journalists. The title they posted was Don’t Let Character Assassination Kill The Real Story.
I thought their choice of title was superb. Especially in light of the fact that when I wrote the speech, the latest attacks on Martin’s character had not reached the level we’re now seeing.
Every indication now (and then, for anyone who looked) was that Martin attacked Zimmerman, breaking his nose and bashing his head into the sidewalk. What about the assassination attempts on Zimmerman (both character, and in Spike Lee’s case, actual)? He’s been effectively lynched more than any of the other cases you reference.
“Every Indication” I’m used to a little bit more than conjecture from you Mr. Phelps. Every indication is that Mr. Zimmermann claims those things. Every indication is that the prosecutor wanted to file charges though.
Inserting yourself into a fight you don’t belong in and can’t handle doesn’t give you the right to bust a cap. The “Stand Your Ground Law” doesn’t even allow for that.
Hey Phleps, every indication on the police video tape from the Stanford Police shows Mr. Zimmermann has not a scratch on him. Well, at least I’ll say no visible signs of the trauma that he reportedly described.
And now ABC has retracted that. Just like NBC had to retract their libelous editing of the 911 call.
You’ve been manipulated, lied to, and used.
Why do you keep going back to your abusers? Isn’t the whole point of new media that you knew that they were incompetent and biased?
In America, there is an unabashed terrorist organization, drawing racial lines, putting out bounties on people, inciting violence, and operating under the tacit approval of the entire justice system.
50 years ago it was the Klan. Now it’s the Black Panthers.
It’s shameful.