Monday, November 24, at 5pm, [UPDATE] Delivery Delayed by Neighborhoods Organizing for Change to have more of their team attend.
I will be delivering a petition about #pointergate with 38,000 signatures, to the headquarters of KSTP-TV, the ABC affiliate in the Twin Cities, on behalf of the Daily Kos community.
As a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities metro (grew up in Saint Paul, now live in the 'burbs) I am disgusted with Jay Kolls and KSTP-TV (as well as the Minneapolis police department), as I know are many of you.
I would greatly appreciate if my fellow Kossacks in the area would join me in delivering the signatures. We will meet at the Dunn Brothers at University and 280, catercorner from KSTP. I will be there by 4:45 pm, and I hope you and your friends will join me. At 5pm we will deliver the signatures.
navajo has also asked for pictures and/or video to be taken, and as camera-shy as I am, let's do that too; if you're coming and have a camera, please bring it. The crew at DKos HQ are inviting other local media to cover the event. KSTP has refused to meet in person to receive the signatures, so we can only leave it on their front desk. The more people who come to deliver these signatures, the more effective it will be and the more shameful will be their refusal to speak in person about it.
I've also reached out to Neighborhoods Organizing for Change to ask for their participation in the event. We've been in contact, and they'll let me know how many of them will be joining us by tomorrow.
The address is:
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS/KSTP-TV
3415 University Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55114-2099
The text of the petition is over the jump.
Hold ABC affiliate KSTP accountable and demand they air a full correction
Last Thursday, a local ABC news affiliate in Minnesota, ran a news story claiming that Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges flashed a gang sign with a known criminal and put the safety of officers in serious risk.
As it turns out, this was a complete fabrication.
In fact, Mayor Hodges was taking a picture with Navell Gordon, a young volunteer from the respected Twin Cities charity, Neighborhoods Organizing for Change. The Minneapolis Chief of Police, Janee Harteau, was present for the photo with Gordon and Hodges and held no objections to it at the time.
Mayor Hodges has publicly criticized the police force, and told residents that she was aware that “some officers abuse the trust that is afforded to them, and take advantage of their roles to do harm rather than prevent it.” This story appears to be a form of retribution from current and retired police officers.
This story is outrageous and irresponsible. KSTP must be held accountable and air a full correction.
Gordon is an active member of his community. Only racism allows such an ugly story and stereotype to be advanced about a young man who was clearly not flashing a gang sign. This report is an indefensible personal attack.
Best case scenario, this was shoddy journalism. Worst case, KSTP is carrying the water for a police department with serious issues. Either way, KSTP must air a correction to this ridiculous story and stick with facts.
Petition Text
Our Message to ABC affiliate KSTP
Your coverage of Mayor Betsy Hodges with community activist Navell Gordon was outrageous and irresponsible.
Run a correction of the story and stick to the facts.
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