Category: Anxiety

Joan Walsh accuses Twitchy of ‘ugly racial paranoia’ for reporting riot threats

http://twitter.com/#!/joanwalsh/status/265261080576663552

The accusation was made in response to Romney supporter @Jayne720’s tweet:

.@joanwalsh You’re on Twitter. Surely you’ve seen the hundreds of tweets saying “If Romney wins, I’m going to riot” ?

— Jayne(@Jayne720) November 4, 2012

Twitchy has reported on riot threats (most recently here). But @Jayne720 didn’t say anything about race, and neither did we.

No one has questioned the accuracy of our reporting. No one has come forward with similar tweets posted by Romney supporters.

Our finding — nearly two dozen tweets posted on a single day threatening to riot if Barack Obama loses to Mitt Romney on Tuesday — was newsworthy and timely. We are honored that The Drudge Report chose to link to it.

In our post, we included every riot tweet we could find that was posted on Friday, November 2nd. We did not exclude any tweets based on race.

It sounds to us like Walsh is suggesting that we should ignore riot threats (and perhaps assassination threats, too?) if they come primarily from “anonymous” African Americans. In other words, we should hold non-famous black people to a lower standard than we expect from famous people or white people.

Who, then, is the racist?

Note also what Walsh chooses to be upset about — not the fact that dozens of people are threatening to riot if Obama loses, but the fact that Twitchy reported the threats.

Update: Walsh now appears to endorse the absurd argument that the tweeters featured in our post were part of a Romney “false flag” operation designed to make Obama supporters look bad.

FTW @maureenwct

— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) November 5, 2012

 

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/11/04/joan-walsh-accuses-twitchy-of-ugly-racial-paranoia-for-reporting-riot-threats/

Portland mall shooter rumored to have worn mask; Anonymous fears crackdown

http://twitter.com/#!/Asher_Wolf/status/278662060357869568

Predictably, gun control advocates wasted no time whatsoever in politicizing the shooting at a Portland, Ore., mall today. In an unusual wrinkle, conflicting reports that the shooter wore a mask of some sort have some concerned about a push for mask control.

Details of the mall shooting are still forthcoming, but many on Twitter reported that the shooter was wearing a white mask. Some called it a hockey mask, while others cited an emergency dispatcher referring to a Guy Fawkes mask — the mask made famous by the movie “V for Vendetta” and now associated with Anonymous. Concern for the shooting victims was put on hold in favor of speculation over a mask crackdown.

A Reuters reporter listening to PD scanner is responsible for the report of Guy Fawkes mass (live at ustre.am/m1qu)

— Hugh Briss (@FoolishReporter) December 12, 2012

Oregon Mall Shooter is was wearing a Guy Fawkes mask according to the police scanner. Oh boy…

— Cuttiebunny (@Cuttiebunny1) December 12, 2012

Whoa, the shooter at that Oregon mall is wearing a Guy Fawkes mask? Can anyone confirm that???

— Dick Whiskey (@JagerJohnson) December 12, 2012

FUCK. I knew this would happen eventually, some dude would go apeshit wearing a Guy Fawkes mask. >.<

— Dick Whiskey (@JagerJohnson) December 12, 2012

Great, the shooter in Oregon was wearing the Guy Fawkes mask from V for Vandetta…Crackdown on Anonymous & those masks coming up…

— SirEdwin (@enjoiSirEdwin) December 12, 2012

To be clear: just the suggestion that it was an #Anonymous mask in #Oregon shooting is pretext to crack-down on others who wear it.

— ChristianChristensen (@ChrChristensen) December 12, 2012

Hearing reports that the shooter in #Clackamashooting was wearing a Guy Fawkes mask? Confirmed? #signofourapocalypse

— Inkosi Inkosikazi (@AnonyNewsNet) December 12, 2012

Watch: if that idiot KKK guy who shot up a mall in OR was wearing a Guy Fawkes mask how long til Fox blames “the Left” for the shooting?

— Joseph Palermo (@JosephPalermo1) December 12, 2012

A Guy Fawkes mask, huh? That can mean only one thing — the shooter must have been a Tea Party member. Right, Brian Ross?

Strange, the MSM isn’t speculating that the Mall shooter was an anonymous member, even though they were reportedly wearing a Guy Fawkes mask

— P D MacGuire (@PDMacGuire) December 12, 2012

Again, police have not confirmed any details of the shooting. According to witnesses, the shooter might have been wearing all black clothing, camouflage, body armor, a hockey mask, a Guy Fawkes mask and a Friday the 13th mask and been carrying a rifle and a machine gun.

#ClackamasShooting guy was in a Friday the 13th mask NOT a Guy Fawkes. This is random act of senseless violence. Not an #Anonymous act.

— PeacefulLiberalLady (@PeaceLibLady) December 12, 2012

Reporter on @andersoncooper just said that he heard the shooter was wearing a “Jason” mask, like in the Friday the 13th movie….

— Yetta Gibson (@yettagibson) December 12, 2012

So a gunman wearing a Jason mask walked into Clackamas Town Center today and shot and killed 2 people. Appare… tmblr.co/ZppPGyZANvN2

— rikkisixx (@rikkisixx) December 12, 2012

A witness tells our afflilate KOIN that the gunman in the #Clackamas mall shooting in Oregon was wearing a hockey mask

— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) December 12, 2012

Emotional #Clackamas witness said she saw the suspect with a “huge M-16″ coming in the mall and he brushed the shoulder of her boyfriend.

— John Bell (@NewsBell) December 12, 2012

KATU /ABC is interviewing woman LIVE over phone who says shooter wearing all black, white hockey mask and carrying assault weapon.#Clackamas

— John Bell (@NewsBell) December 12, 2012

Will the media rush to judgment and investigate the possible Anonymous connection? It’s been hours; can we consider it progress that the Tea Party hasn’t been fingered yet?

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/12/11/portland-mall-shooter-rumored-to-have-worn-guy-fawkes-mask-anonymous-fears-crackdown/

‘Who thinks like this?’ Brad Woodhouse’s shot at Rand Paul is truly lame

http://twitter.com/#!/exjon/status/464470350353666048

Former DNC comms director Brad Woodhouse has a problem. Namely, he’s a Democrat and therefore has nothing better to do than try to stir up trouble where there isn’t any.

http://twitter.com/#!/sistertoldjah/status/464469542312624128

Just how desperate is he? Have a look:

http://twitter.com/#!/woodhouseb/status/464465701252923392

Because sandwich hypocrisy or something.

http://twitter.com/#!/woodhouseb/status/464466223896739840

Good. Lord.

http://twitter.com/#!/charlescwcooke/status/464471054371418112

Boneheaded busybodies with too much time on their hands think like that.

http://twitter.com/#!/AmyOtto8/status/464472307939823616 http://twitter.com/#!/JimmyTusheets/status/464470695096115200 http://twitter.com/#!/RBPundit/status/464470885731426304

That would be awesome.

http://twitter.com/#!/eriContrarian/status/464471994780893185

Heh.

Seriously, though, what does Woodhouse think he’s accomplishing here, other than making himself look like an ass?

http://twitter.com/#!/LeonHWolf/status/464473961565134848

***

Related:

Twitchy coverage of Brad Woodhouse

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2014/05/08/who-thinks-like-this-busybody-brad-woodhouses-shot-at-rand-paul-is-truly-lame/

Burundi Journalist Who Refused To Give Up Source Is Freed

“I’m free at last.” Thousands took to the street after radio host Bob Rugurika, who refused to give up the identity of a source who claimed to be involved in the murder of Italian nuns, is released on bail.

Thousands have taken to the streets of the Burundian capital Bujumbura after a popular radio host who was jailed for refusing to give up the identity of a source was released on bail on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported.

Thousands have taken to the streets of the Burundian capital Bujumbura after a popular radio host who was jailed for refusing to give up the identity of a source was released on bail on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported.

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Bob Rugurika on Feb. 19. Esdras Ndikumana/AFP / Getty Images

Bob Rugurika — a host and the director of the country’s Radio Publique Africaine — was detained on January 20 for alleged complicity in murder, after he refused to identify a guest who claimed to have been involved in the killing of three Italian nuns in September 2014.

Rugurika’s station is a popular independent outlet in the central African nation, and is nicknamed the “voice of the voiceless.” He is a prominent government critic, the Guardian said, and his arrest came months ahead of key elections.

In the interview, the guest identified others suspected of involvement in the killings, including former and serving members of the intelligence services and police. He did not provide any evidence, The Guardian said.

Rugurika was then arrested on a number of charges — such as complicity in murder and concealing a criminal — and he will still face trial.

The news of Rugurika’s release brought huge numbers of people onto the streets in what witnesses told AFP was one of the biggest demonstrations Bujumbura has seen in recent years.

The news of Rugurika's release brought huge numbers of people onto the streets in what witnesses told AFP was one of the biggest demonstrations Bujumbura has seen in recent years.

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Esdras Ndikumana/AFP / Getty Images

Vast crowds were seen dancing and singing on the capital’s streets.

Rekura BOB Rugurika – ‪#‎FreeBob‬ – Libérez BOB via Facebook / Via Facebook: video.php

A teacher named Fabian was at the demonstration, and was cited by the Guardian as saying: “I’m 50 and I have never seen such a crowd in the streets.”

instagram.com

Fabian said the only event of comaprable size he could think of was celebrations following the elections for the country’s first democratically-chosen president, Melchior Ndadaye, in 1993.

Radio Publique Africaine is seen as close to the Burundian opposition, and will often interview those who say they have been the victims of discrimination or injustice, The Guardian said.


The September killings took place in a suburb to the north of Bujumbura.

Two of the slain nuns, 82-year-old Olga Raschietti, and 75-year-old Lucia Pulici, were found partially decapitated in their dorm. A third, Bernardetta Boggian, 79, was found dead a day later.

Rugurika’s arrest drew attention to press freedom in the landlocked nation, and caused consternation among human rights groups and journalistic organizations. The U.S. government and European Union politicians both called for his release, and last week the European Parliament threatened to suspend a five year, 432 million euro aid program if Rugurika was not freed, Al Jazeera reported.

Burundians go to the polls in June. Earlier this week, President Pierre Nkurunziza’s spokesman warned opponents against taking to the streets to protest his bid to win a third term in office. Nkurunziza’s critics say a third term would violate Burundi’s constitution.

Burundi’s political climate is fractious, and the country only emerged from a 13-year civil war in 2006.

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AFP / Getty Images ESDRAS NDIKUMANA

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Burundians gather outside Radio Publique Africaine HQ after Rugurika’s release, Feb. 19. Esdras Ndikumana / AFP / Getty Images

Rugurika was released on Thursday on bail amounting to $9,600, his lawyer Lambert Nigarura said.


“My client gained a provisional release under the decision of the appeal court,” Niagura added.

After his release, Rugurika headed into Bujumbura, followed by supporters who thronged the streets, packed into cars and on motorbikes, The Guardian reported.

In a radio broadcast, he said: “I have no words to thank the Burundian population. Thanks to your support, your commitment … I’m free at last.”

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/franciswhittaker/burundi-journalist-who-refused-to-give-up-source-is-freed