Rampant rumors and paranoid vigilantes-- message to CNN

[pat_k]

CNN is looking for ways to help hurricane victims. Here's what I sent:
---------------------------------------------

Subject: Rampant rumors and paranoid vigilantes

Two ways that CNN and other media outlets can help:

1) STOP passing on unsubstantiated rumors!

The force of rampant rumor fuels hysteria and chaos. People die as officials waste time chasing down phantom crimes. Paranoia and hysteria kills. Instead of feeding the problem, the media can help. It is incredibly irresponsible to report frightening incidents that have not been substantiated by reliable eyewitness account.

2) Tell the WHOLE story. Generalized descriptions of "chaos" and "lawlessness" are NOT helpful. People create their own picture – one that is colored by individual bias.

Americans have been bombarded with countless reports of the chaos and lawlessness caused by gangs of looters and countless pictures of young black men carrying bags or goods.

Where are reports on the actions of paranoid vigilantes?

How many of the gunshots heard in the night came from vigilante guns? How many people have been shot by vigilantes? You probably have no idea and that’s the problem.

Black American men are being demonized by lopsided reporting. The whole story must include the vigilante gangs that are "patrolling" and shooting at anyone they perceive to be a threat. When hysteria takes hold, vigilantes end up shooting at each other, but to date you have failed to report on this danger.

Armed, frightened, untrained vigilantes, who are ready to shoot at the slightest provocation, are at least as frightening the young black men they fear.

Are vigilante murders going to be investigated? What do public officials have to say on the subject?

We’ve heard plenty of tough talk about using lethal force to stop looting. What about efforts (lethal or not) to stop to vigilantism?

What about the police who are escorting rich white people as they break into stores to "find" supplies, while threatening to shoot others -- mostly black -- for breaking in on their own to "loot"? The callous racism exhibited by this biased behavior is appalling, but it too is part of the whole story.

References
-------------
Reports from http://polimom.blogspot.com (a blog for residents of affluent Algiers Point):

9/1 @ 7:44 PM -- "So far, the dead are all looters." {looters or just people someone thought were looters?}

9/2 @ 5:59 AM -- "The night was quiet on the point…"

9/2 @ 9:52 AM -- "The looting on AP {Algiers Point} seems to be confined to businesses/commercial building…"

9/2 @ 7:37 PM -- Comment added by Debbie "My husband and a small band of neighbors stayed and have been patrolling Lower Coast on horseback, armed with guns. On Wed, police took them to Breaux Mart and allowed them to take food, water and supplies…."

9/2 @ 9:31 PM -- "…The reality is that the looters on the West Bank are from… well… the West Bank."

9/3 @ 7:56 AM -- "The folks…say that someone was prowling around the block last night. They know because they scattered some aluminum cans about as an alert system…. Whoever it was said, "Don’t Shoot," and took off…"

9/3 @ 12:38 PM – "We can't fire a warning shot - shooting will bring armed residents from all around the area immediately. I feel really sorry for looters who try to come in here."

Nola.com Nola View, Friday, September 02, 2005, "Trapped in Algiers" 4:47 PM "…Looters walk his neighborhood everynight with flashlights looking for unoccupied homes" {Note: This post appears to have been deleted. Perhaps because they figured out that those "looters with flashlights" were actually vigilante "patrols."

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Because of the man holding a gun, talking about protecting his property?

Kkkarl needs us to buy absurdities, so he can sell atrocities, Voltaire

[Senator]

2. kick

[pat_k]

3. Reports from http://polimom.blogspot.com

This is included in the above, but I wanted to highlight http://polimom.blogspot.com as a site for "insider" perspective (affluent insider that is).

----------------------
Reports from http://polimom.blogspot.com (a blog for residents of affluent Algiers Point):
9/1 @ 7:44 PM -- "So far, the dead are all looters." {looters or just people someone thought were looters?}

9/2 @ 5:59 AM -- "The night was quiet on the point…"

9/2 @ 9:52 AM -- "The looting on AP {Algiers Point} seems to be confined to businesses/commercial building…"

9/2 @ 7:37 PM -- Comment added by Debbie "My husband and a small band of neighbors stayed and have been patrolling Lower Coast on horseback, armed with guns. On Wed, police took them to Breaux Mart and allowed them to take food, water and supplies…."

9/2 @ 9:31 PM -- "…The reality is that the looters on the West Bank are from… well… the West Bank."

9/3 @ 7:56 AM -- "The folks…say that someone was prowling around the block last night. They know because they scattered some aluminum cans about as an alert system…. Whoever it was said, "Don’t Shoot," and took off…"

9/3 @ 12:38 PM – "We can't fire a warning shot - shooting will bring armed residents from all around the area immediately. I feel really sorry for looters who try to come in here."

Nola.com Nola View, Friday, September 02, 2005, "Trapped in Algiers" 4:47 PM by [e-mail] "…Looters walk his neighborhood everynight with flashlights looking for unoccupied homes" {Note: This post appears to have been deleted. Perhaps because they figured out that those "looters with flashlights" were actually vigilante "patrols."