Those who report the news play a significant part in people’s perceptions about whom are accountable for crimes. If one skews reporting, those consuming it will have a false reality. Trump is quick to tweet on crimes by people of color and rarely a peep otherwise. Where’s the president on this white guy?
ThinkProgress reported the following.
On Sunday evening, a man allegedly planted two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, Florida. The police are looking for a person of interest in connection with the incident, but he remains on the loose Monday morning.
The device — described in local reports as “some type of flare inside of a PVC pipe that was wrapped in electrical tape” — caused an explosion near a loading dock. While nobody was injured, you might think that the detonation of IEDs at a shopping mall would be a significant story, especially among right-wing voices who are usually quick to politicize attempted acts of violence in public places.
You’d be wrong. On Monday morning, Breitbart’s homepage featured a story about “knife-wielding jihadist inmates” who attacked a prison guard in France, but not a single word about the IEDs in Florida. A brief write-up was featured toward the bottom of Fox News’ homepage. President Trump — reliably quick to politicize act of violence committed by Muslims, even when they happen overseas — hasn’t said anything about the incident as this is published.
As an activist, one of the reasons I am sympathetic to the Trump supporters, to even the white nationalists, and others that many consider deplorables, is that I understand that our media, mainstream and otherwise are so biased, that they have cauterized within the brains of many, especially those that are financially stressed, a false reality. Deprogramming isn’t easy, but it is the only choice. But we must render the purveyors of misinformation an lies moot or irrelevant.
Viewers are encouraged to subscribe and join the conversation for more insightful commentary and to support progressive messages. Together, we can populate the internet with progressive messages that represent the true aspirations of most Americans.
