Hi everybody. Ang here.
We decided a couple of days ago that, now that we have the new issue out and restocking already commencing, and we happen to have a four-week news cycle instead of three, we’d better get on over to Ferguson, Missouri, and see what’s really going on.
We’ve heard all kinds of things, have seen all kinds of slants, on this situation of what’s either serious protests or significant civil unrest. Either way it’s looked at—it’s all the cops’ faults; it’s all the “community’s” fault, it’s all the fault of the thug mentality, it’s all the fault of the police state—it’s like we’re not getting the real deal. There’s just TOO MUCH slant.
Even with the level-headed coverage afforded by many FCC and internet radio sites, which we’ve posted some lifestream of right here at the site, it’s still unclear exactly what is prompting all this mess in Ferguson. I myself have talked to police officers right here in southern Illinois, police chiefs among them, and most of them are of the opinion that transparency from the outset might have offset some of this mess. Keeping people up with what’s happening is a forward-acting maneuver. But it appears that there isn’t a lot of that forthcoming. And there’s even been some conspiracy theories put forth, well-researched, that show that there might be a real reason why police are so clammed-up about the matter.
The whys and wherefores are up to the people to decide, but they’re up to the officials to put forth. And that’s why Jack and Chris are in Ferguson today, to try and meet with some people, get some information, and cut through the crap. Will they be able to do it in a 24 or 48-hour period? Maybe. It might take longer than that. It might not go well. They might get arrested, and I’ll have to send someone over there in a screaming tear because I’m in court Friday with Cottage Township, and we have a kid getting married this weekend. Or, they might find that things aren’t really as bad as they’ve been hyped up to be….and they’ll find everyone compliant and interested in being interviewed to tell folks that things are kind of business as usual.
Whatever the case, we’re going to attempt to livestream this. If we don’t get to do livestream, we’ll be uploading vids to our YouTube channel. In the event that they’re not able to get any internet in that part of the city, and will have to leave to send messaging out, it may just be reports and a few random photos til they get back. They are taking all camera gear, all videotaping devices. They are not taking any weapons. They are not taking any cash. They are taking basic identification including press badges (even though as Jack is fond of saying, “my press badge has on it whatever I tell my print shop guy to put on it.”) They are taking some basics (food and water) in case they get stuck somewhere. They’re prepared for whatever happens, good or bad.
But most of all, they’re just going to approach it objectively. Everyone needs a chance to tell what’s going on. No one is going to be put on the spot; anyone can tell them anything they’d like. And ultimately, we may not get the “real” story…but we might get something different than what we’ve heard already. At the very, very least, those who will be interviewed will have that interview conducted by people who don’t have a dog in the fight. We despise rioters the same as we despise paramilitarized police. We support protestors as much as we support police trying to keep things under control. We’re right down the middle with this issue.
And we’re going to bring it to you today.