Posted on 08/31/2012 4:17:18 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Republican National Convention became the scene of a racist incident involving an African-American CNN camera-woman.
The RNC condemned the act. CNN gave a terse statement acknowledging it. At first, no names were released. Finally, under pressure from the Black community, the camera-woman, Patricia Carroll, 34, gave an interview. Resistance to investigating this incident remains as disheartening as the story, itself.
The facts are scarce. On Tuesday, August 28, Patricia Carroll, a camera-operator for CNN, was on the Convention floor. She noticed debris falling around her. Carroll looked up and saw the two White males tossing peanuts toward her. Peanuts, a GOP snack follows their symbolic Republican elephant.
"What are you doing? Carroll said. “Are you out of your damned mind?”
The men responded, "Here's some more peanuts." They then approached the guardrail and hovering above her in the stands and said: “This is what we feed animals at the zoo." They began hitting her with peanuts. The men were described as adult - “older-than-middle-aged White men."
In Carroll’s interview with friend and reporter Jamila Bey, the incident was viewed as surreal but not out of the realm for Florida. Carroll said: “While his partner laughed, the thrower leaned over the railing as if he was at the zoo and snorted, 'here’s some more peanuts.'"
Two Black cameramen and a female reporter came to her rescue. CNN security happened to be in the area. The two men were escorted out by RNC security. At this point, a bizarre story of racial insult sinks to levels that question whether this country has forgotten every painful lesson learned from the Civil Rights Movement.
The RNC offered Carroll no profuse apology. Instead, the RNC asked Carroll whether the miscreants been Black or White. Outside of a testy statement calling the incident reprehensible, the RNC strategists refuse to elaborate on any actions they have taken against the perpetrators.
CNN issued a short statement confirming the incident which also declared, "CNN worked with convention officials to address this matter and will have no further comment." Were the RNC and CNN expecting this blatantly racial act against a Black woman, by two White delegates, at a political convention, nominating a U.S. Presidential candidate to simply disappear? If neither institution wanted to fan the flames of this controversy remaining silent was not the best strategy.
News organizations pry into the lives of the famous, political, and pedestrian daily for a living. Yet, CNN, like other media, can become camera-shy when faced with being part of a breaking news story. In this case, CNN resisted every effort to provide details. One can only imagine the media and political fall-out from had a similar incident occurred at an NAACP convention, with a White camera-woman, and two Black men taunting her with animal insults, and throwing food.
Without a police report the names are more difficult to find, says Roland Martin, CNN commentator. The Huffington Post, The Root, and Richard Prince’s Journal-ism have been at the forefront of prying forth details. No investigation seems likely without continued pressure from social media and everyday people seeking answers their civil rights organizations are not interested in knowing.
The RNC statement condemning this racial attack failed to reveal the names of the men or whether they were allowed to return and vote for Mitt Romney. Their State delegation remains a mystery, as well. This shameful act, and the silence surrounding it, speaks to what is deeply wrong with this country.
Patricia Carroll was the victim of a racial attack in the shadow of the stage where the RNC showcased Black Republicans Tim Scott, Mia Love, and Artur Davis. Where Condoleeza Rice, former Secretary of State, referred to the racial segregation of her youth as an obstacle overcome with hard-work negating the harsh reality of four little girls killed in the Klan-bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church, in Birmingham, Alabama.
Each speaker regaled the GOP before an audience of over 4,000 delegates;where about 46 were African-American. To date, CNN and the RNC remain silent. However, remaining silent in the presence of racial ugliness will not make racism disappear. Racism only festers in silence.
The Republicans may be the party of Lincoln. But, they refuse to accept how the vestiges of the slavery Lincoln ended bedevils this country even into this 21st century. _______
Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, an Associate Professor of Constitutional Law at John Jay College in New York City, is author of "Race, Law, and American Society: 1607 to Present," "The U.S. Constitution: An African-American Context," and a journalist covering the U.S. Supreme Court. She is reporting from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
"Speaking Truth To Empower."
thanks for the info vet, why does it not surprise me
Does this rag forget who was the KKK, who had officials as ex KKK, who had slavery, who was for civli rights and who and what President segregated the races in the 20’s in the military?
Why isn;t the GOP even this Mia woman etc shouting about this and informing the black community about these facts, hell even MLK was a republican
CNN covering up for the RNC? Bunch of BS. It would be a cold day in you-know-where before CNN would ever cover up for the GOP. The DNC however...most definitely.
I heard this already. Even if it happened, I don’t see any “racism” at all. Maybe the guys were throwing peanuts at an animal that is a CNN CAMERA PERSON...not a “black” “woman”. Heck, I can see that happening. Race Race Race!! Get a different angle, for goodness sakes! They have over-played this hand. (Sounds like they know they are hurting for ratings.)
CNN LIES
Forget? They’re from Africa. I doubt if they ever knew any of that in the first place. They know what the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons have told them. Most native-born Americans would have no idea what you’re talking about and would probably shout you down as a bigot, liar and truth denier or some such.
Or Paulestinians.
That is where "the story" diverges into pure fantasy for me.
If "RNC security" escorted them out then they already knew who the people were as well as if they were Black or White.
It just boggles the imagination. All "the RNC" had to do was ask their own security to fill in the details and she would never even need to be asked such an implausible question.
Carroll said: “While his partner laughed...
Is that a "gay" thing? His "partner"?
This story at “Black Star News” is designed to inflame. Period. Because they need so desperately to paint the GOP as racist.
***Two Black cameramen and a female reporter came to her rescue... ***
Must have been real heavy peanuts that she needed rescuing!
yea there are always the ignorant fools who think they know everything but know nothing.
I bet if you told them that there was black slave owners or blacks gave blacks away to whites for slavery they woudl look jaw dropping
The convention was invitation only, if the RNC security had escorted them out, they would have seen their ID on their badges they must wear plainly visible. It’s highly doubtful the RNC delegates would want to screw up their own convention. I’m sounding the BS whistle on this one.
Let’s just assume it did happen.
Three people come to “rescue” her from peanuts.
What, is she too stupid to walk off or did the other three just come to eat her peanuts?
“Is this a typical left wing fringe rag?”
http://racelawsociety.blogspot.com/
The writer is the author of a book about racial injustice and the forward was written by Derrick Bell.
Race, Law, and American Society: 1607 to Present
by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall (with foreword by Derrick Bell)
How is it racist?
She might be obese, and fat people are likened to elephants, which are fed peanuts.
It might be because she represents ultra-liberal CNN, which is a network for the lowest zoo animals...
Race, Law, and American Society: 1607 to Present
by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall (with foreword by Derrick Bell)
She is (like Obama) hardwired to see racist men “acting stupidly”. Must tune into CNN for the Soledad Obrien show.
She will post her film somewhere, The Root?
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