Criminal Madness – Part Two

I no sooner posted the previous post when this new item from the The Olympian popped up over at Memeorandum. The Executive Editor of the newspaper, Vickie Kilgore, writes about the situation her reporters found themselves in, in danger not from police, but from out-of-control, thuggish and downright criminal protesters.

However, photographer Tony Overman was threatened by protesters and felt endangered to the point of calling 9-1-1 for assistance.

There is much misinformation on this topic in community blogs and conversation.

Journalists covering breaking news often put themselves at risk. Being on the frontlines to report news as it happens is essential. Most of us love that adrenaline rush of the big story happening before our eyes. But in volatile situations such as the protests of the past week, our journalists are exposed to the same risks as everyone else when tension escalates.

And an out-of-control crowd — as the local demonstrators proved to be several times — is a scary thing.

Tony is experienced in shooting dangerous scenes. He spent several weeks in Iraq last year covering our troops.

But last week Tony was cornered against a chain-link fence by protesters angry at being photographed. One grabbed at his lens. Tony said the hostility was alarming, and he felt threatened as they yelled at him with growing intensity. He reached for his cell phone, punched 9-1-1 and explained the situation, officers arrived and the demonstrators pinning him to the fence backed off.

There is quite a bit more. The criminals – and that is the correct term – repeatedly threatened reporters and , for the second time, a report also surfaces about the abuse of children:

Tony, who is not easily intimidated, was angry. You don't mess with a photographer's equipment. But it was more than that. The young demonstrators surrounding and taunting him were being egged on by adults, men in positions of influence in this community. They should have behaved more responsibly.

This is criminal activity and some people need to go to jail for a long time. This is not civil disobedience, it is inciting riot and abusing children. I do not care how much you oppose the war, if you would sanction this behavior you really need help – or punishment.

There is quite a bit more. The criminals – and that is the correct term – repeatedly threatened reporters and , for the second time, a report also surfaces about the abuse of children:

Tony, who is not easily intimidated, was angry. You don't mess with a photographer's equipment. But it was more than that. The young demonstrators surrounding and taunting him were being egged on by adults, men in positions of influence in this community. They should have behaved more responsibly.

This is criminal activity and some people need to go to jail for a long time. This is not civil disobedience, it is inciting riot and abusing children. I do not care how much you oppose the war, if you would sanction this behavior you really need help – or punishment.

UPDATE: Others: Say Anything: I generally view protests with some degree of bemused – if impatient – tolerance but this is over the top. These people need to go to a federal prison.

Wake Up America: It's one thing for a grown adult to protest and form a human blockade against tons of rolling metal. It's another thing entirely to use small children to do so. These people are not responsible parents, which is obvious by their actions.

Sister Toldjah: The witch in the video and pictures is not a mother. She’s a damn monster. SHAME ON YOU, LADY, and the other crazy lunatics out there who have lost their bleeping minds. (She has video of the criminal child abusers up.)

Environmental Republican: Words actually fail me sometimes. This is full-on child abuse in my opinion. If you want to protest, that's your inalienable right, but when you include your kids and have them hide their faces, sorry, I draw the line.

Urban Grounds: That woman should have her children removed from her custody while she is serving a long, long stint in a mental health facility.

Squiggler: THESE PEOPLE ARE INSANE!

Discerning Texan: Leftist Mom Drops Baby on head to stop Olympia WA troop transports

American Pundit: She was apparently so busy celebrating the fact she was able to damage our ability to fight a war, that she allowed her baby to fall face first on the pavement.

Ace of Spades: And of course a "Peace Mom" using her kid as a prop gets distracted by a drum circle and drops her baby to the ground.

Jawa Report: When you see images like the one above that drive self-appointed saviors of the world to use their children as human shields in their quests for "peace," you begin to wonder if some of todays self-described leftwing super-patriots aren't flirting with this kind of fanatical violence in the name of their so-called causes. (Read it to see what Good LT talking about. It matters. Because it is just like 1968 all over again.)