Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 51

Human Rights Groups Rips Rudoren

I much-deserved thrashing, with evidence, of NYT's Jody Rudoren for just one of her several stenographic articles on the Gaza-Israel conflict last month.  Read the whole thing (and here's my take on the same article).  I love where they caught her in lie about an interview and she corrected tweet but not article. 

Serious journalists would bridge the gap between events on the ground and concerned citizens around the world. Rudoren completely failed to do so. Given the limited coverage of Israel’s then one-month-long attack on the Gaza Strip by the Times and the many unsubstantiated claims relayed by Israeli and international media, we consider the interview between Rudoren and Zaqout to be a lost opportunity.

Monday Updates on Ferguson Crisis

Press conference at church on autopsy about to start, will live-blog here. Lead attorney Crump starts it off.  Baden is there with Prof. Sean Parcells who assisted him.  Crump: at least number of shots could have been released on day one. He says autopsy shows what witnesses claimed is true.

Then second attorney Parks is on, talks about the two head shots. "Why would he be shot on top of his head, a 6-foot-4 man?"  That alone enough to arrest cop. 

Baden (he's 80 but still appears very sharp):  two autopsies not unusual but a third, federal one, very rare. He praises reputation of local medical examiner and says her autopsy probably fine.

Parcells for details: describes 6 entry wounds plus odd path of one that may have gone through eye and out the clavicle.  Key: wound to inside part of arm consistent with him walking away--or putting hands up.  Heads shot "most likely" the last two.

Baden taking questions:  repeats found no shots close but needs to see clothing.  Three bullets found in body but need to see x-rays.   Local autopsy may come out "today or three or four months from now."   Asked if any signs of of struggle: "there weren't," but needs to see any injuries claimed by cop.  "No evidence of a struggle." Baden predicts local autopsy will be very similar.   She can release any time--but can be halted by local prosecutor for months.  He couldn't do toxicology because blood gone by time he did autopsy..."All of the gunshot wounds survivable except for the two to the head."  Citizen audience angry that two head shots did not lead to immediate arrest of cop. 
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Another witness on CNN with new cellphone video of immediate aftermath of shooting.  She is yet another who says she saw tussle at car, Brown running, Wilson shooting and grazing Brown, who then turns and shot many times.  She appears quite credible...Don Lemon interviews 4 volunteers from nearby towns who come every morning to clean up streets (including one white kid) and complain about small criminal element causing trouble. 

Gov. Jay Nixon, citing last night's conflicts--and exaggerating a bit--orders National Guard to Ferguson...As I tweeted late last night, police arrested another couple reporters, threatened to shoot another and mace Chris Hayes. ...This morning on TV local congressman says he has "no confidence" in local police investigation. ... Terrific column by the great (on and off the court) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at Time. 

Press conference at 10:30 a.m. ET on the Brown autopsy with Baden, and lawyers (re:  six shots from the front etc.).  Questions may include what the shot to the top of the head indicates since Brown was half a foot or more taller than Wilson (was he indeed on his knees when shot?) and the claim that another entered his right eye--and exited through his collarbone, suggesting a shot directly from above--or something..."One of the bullets shattered Mr. Brown’s right eye, traveled through his face, exited his jaw and re-entered his collarbone. The last two shots in the head would have stopped him in his tracks and were likely the last fired." Would only work if bent way over on knees--or shot while falling forward after earlier shot.

MSNBC report on their site says police had to rescue McDonald's staffers there after site "taken over."  Looting  elseqwhere and a fire and more.

John Oliver with another great segment last night on Ferguson and police militarization.

Ferguson Tonight

NYT with first report on autopsy.  Brown hit by at least six shots, all from front, two in the head, according to Michael Baden's preliminary report.  None from close range it seems (note: preliminary).  Jesse Jackson just now on CNN calls this a troubling and "provocative" finding.  A Brown family attorney:  “The sheer number of bullets and the way they were scattered all over his body showed this police officer had a brazen disregard for the very people he was supposed to protect in that community. We want to make sure people understand what this case is about: This case is about a police officer executing a young unarmed man in broad daylight.”

Livestream below opf tonight's conflict.  Crowd was right where camera is pointing until just now when tear gas pushed them back. Now vehicles pushing them back and the LRAD sound blasting trucks have been going non-stop.  CNN reporters says he saw one man hit by rubber bullets.   MSNBC and CNN now live. Protesters allegedly mad that were peaceful and then the tear gas started flying.  Others claim rocks and molotov cocktails thrown.

Sunday Updates on Ferguson Tragedy

11:00 a.m.  Atty Gen Holder orders federal, independent autopsy of Brown, at request of family, who had announced Michael Baden was doing one just yesterday.

10:00 a.m. Love the McDonald's above the gas or smoke last night...photo by Lawrence Bryant. 

Press conference right now by Capt. Ron Johnson on last night's curfew--most followed, in the rain, but there was one shooting with a person in critical condition.  Tear gas--or smoke bombs--near the end.   @RyanJReilly tweeting it now.   Seven arrested.  "He claims there are four instigators from Oakland who are stirring members of the crowd up....Malik Shabazz of New Black Panther Party told me he thinks things went pretty well."  NBC's wrap-up.

Wesley Lowery, the other reporter arrested this week, with full piece at Wash Post (he'll be on "Meet the Press" today).

Yesterday the Amnesty International chief compared curfew and other actions to dictatorships.  Now Human Rights Watch also hits "intimidation" of protesters. 

What a Riot

NYT does one of those "what you're reading/watching" things usually reserved for celebs or politicians but this week it's one of the Pussy Riot women.  Among the Nadya likes:  the Dead Kennedys, "Dr. Strangelove," "House of Cards," Doris Day, the piano.

Woodstock Coverage, 45 Years Ago

CBS wraps it up, introduced by Walter Cronkite.  News and then analysis (by John Laurence, who was an ace Vietnam war reporter).  And check out the somewhat sexually suggestive diet commercial.  Below that, ABC's coverage, also quite positive on "polite" kids and lack of "rioting."  Plus:  The greatest band cut out of the Woodstock film--of course, it's The Band.  Now see what we missed.

Woodstock, MIA

I've been paying tribute to the (perhaps over-hyped) festival which took place exactly 45 years ago--while I had to work at my summer job at a daily newspaper a couple of hundred miles to the west.  Well, I did make it to the Toronto Pop festival earlier that summer, where I caught The Band, Steppenwolf, Procol Harum, more.

Anyway, here's a quiz:  Everyone knows the fest was suppose to close on day 3, a Sunday, but actually bled into Monday morning.  Still: which three acts were stranded or cancelled and never got to play?  Honk, honk... Iron Butterfly, Jeff Beck, It's a Beautiful Day.   So here's a little vintage Beck below.  He's even wearing sleeves.  The Yardbirds--also with Page and Clapton at different points--were erratic but often great.  BTW,  lead singer Keith Relf got electrocuted plugging in a guitar and died a few years later.

Saturday Updates on Ferguson Crisis and Conflict

After 48 hours of relative calm, police fire tear gas at 200 protesters late at night as difficult day ends. "Police fired a tear gas canister at a crowd of around 200 people last night who gathered near a shop that Michael Brown, 18, was suspected of robbing. Some protesters threw bottles at officers in riot gear and chanted 'hands up, don't shoot.'"

J. Cole releases song about Michael Brown, "Be Free."  “That coulda been me, easily. It could have been my best friend. I’m tired of being desensitized to the murder of black men.”


NYT reporter locates, and visits, police shooter Darren Wilson's home, even reveals what town it's in.  Chats with neighbors who say he cleared out in a hurry on Tuesday--never finished cutting his lawn.  Lives with another cop.  Let kids swim in his pool.  Etc.  Turns out he has only been on force for two years--plus four years in nearby town.

Maybe, possibly,  

Ferguson Perp Named--and a Robbery Claim

UPDATES (latest at top):  NYT reporter locates, and visits, police shooter Darren Wilson's home, even reveals what town it's in.  Chats with neighbors who say he cleared out in a hurry on Tuesday--never finished cutting his lawn.  Lives with another cop.  Let kids swim in his pool.  Etc.  Turns out he has only been on force for two years--plus four years in nearby town.

Maybe, possibly,
Wow, now police chief admits that Brown was stopped purely for walking in the street--not as robbery suspect...."His initial contact was not related to the robbery." He also called Darren Wilson a "gentle, quiet man."

Attorney for Dorian Johnson
Wesley Lowery (who was arrested the other night) with
CNN legal analyst says key will be what (if true) that "injury" to cop was--could sustain defense that he was "attacked" and felt threatened and courts have ruled that cops can shoot fleeing suspect, right or not.  Vox analyzes legal precedents.

More from Don Lemon at CNN just now on police documents:  in buried note they say 4 to 6 shots.

If that name Dorian Johnson sounds familiar as alleged accomplice in the purported "strong arm" robbery (or shoplifting)--he's also one of the few eyewitnesses to Brown's death who has appeared in the media this week. But the baffling question: If he was indeed in on the robbery why has he not been arrested (especially since he has hit police in his witness account)?  I suppose it's possible that video shows him as only passive participant in the shoplifting so they feel charges would not stick.  Also suggests that he confirmed to them that he indeed was at store with Brown, as observer only, which fingers Brown as indeed involved. 

Also: no word on cigars found in Brown's pockets.

@RyanjReilly of Huff Post with claims in police report (and video and pics) that Brown indeed was suspect in that robbery maybe an hour before (which seem to involved cigars).   Chief suspect is quite large but face grainy.  Police claiming "robbery" but wonder if it is more "shoplifting."  CNN's Don Lemon says photo of Brown after killing shows wearing same clothes and cap as guy in robbery video.

Wash Post's Wesley Lowery tweets: "Info handed out ONLY about alleged robbery. NO info included about interaction with Officer Wilson, the shooting....Not handed out: a use of force report, any police report written by Officer Wilson, any narrative of shooting."

9:45 a.m. Police chief (photo above)  in largely bumbling manner speaks to press about Mike Brown incident.  Goes over timeline on date of killing.  Incident started, allegedly, with report of robbery suspect.  Extremely vague.  Then says will hand out packets on the robbery although not clear if they are suggesting Brown involved in that or just stopped as possible suspect.  Names officer as Darren Wilson, as some had suggested.   Claims he has had no disciplinary actions in six years.   And claims he was injured in episode.  And that's it.  No details and we'll see what's in the packet.  Also: no update on police investigation.

Darren Wilson was the name a reporter queried yesterday and chief gave it a way by looking shocked and refusing to confirm or deny.

Chief obviously trying to link to robbery in some way--recall that the police say Wilson did not confront Brown as a suspect in that but simply to "get the fuck get on the sidewalk" instead of walking on street.  

Woodstock, 1969, Day 2

Continuing my daily highlight: at about this hour on this day in 1969 the Who played epic set (and Townsend smashed Abbie Hoffman with his guitar).  Here's "My Generation" plus Pete guitar solo, and below that, for Tommy fans,  "See Me, Feel Me." Young 'uns: don't miss Moonie on drums. Now I have no choice but to plead: Hope I get old before I die.