The Title ABC Only Wishes Were True: 'White Supremacists Riot'

By John Armor (Bio | Archive)
October 17, 2005 - 00:31 ET

The Associated Press led the way nationally in dishonest reporting on the riot in Toledo, Ohio, Saturday, Oct. 15.. Below is a screen capture of the false headline and subhead from the AP story, copied by ABC News:

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Using a screen capture was necessary, because both the Associated Press and ABC News have now changed the title to the accurate statement that "Anti-White Supremacists" were the ones who rioted. The truth is, as the first sentence stated, that the riot was conducted by hundreds of protestors against the neo-Nazis. (The neo-Nazis numbered some two dozen people, and did not conduct their rally because the local police could not "guarantee their safety.")

So, contrary to the lede, the event was not "allowed." And contrary to the head and subhead, the riot was entirely conducted by black protestors, not white supremecists. Presumably John Seewer, AP reporter, actually attended the event and saw what happened. So, the question is a very simple one:

Who is going to get fired for this gross and public dishonesty which polluted the American press this morning? In the immortal words of Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, "Anyone, anyone?"

John_Armor@aya.yale.edu