Yesterday morning, just hours before video of the police shooting of Tamir Rice was released to the public and media along with the officers’ names, the Northeast Ohio Media Group published an article headlined, “Tamir Rice’s father has history of domestic violence.”
Response to the article was quick and harsh: this was victim blaming — as we’ve seen time and time again in cases of African American victims and white shooters, be they police or the George Zimmerman persuasion — except this was still somehow worse. What the hell did Rice’s parents’ criminal record have to do with his being shot 1.5 seconds after a police car pulled up to the recreation center, folks from around the world asked.
Reporter Brandon Blackwell eventually added an update to the story to attempt to answer that question. “People from across the region have been asking whether Rice grew up around violence. The Northeast Ohio Media Group investigated the backgrounds of the parents and found the mother and father both have violent pasts.”
Some folks at NEOMG were on the public defense for Blackwell and whatever editor decided this garbage was worth publishing, including Mark Naymik, who tweeted: “Gives small window into this young boy’s life. A frame of reference, perhaps for why he had toy gun?” Um, huh?
Others, however, not only saw the article for what it was, but chose to voice that opinion publicly. The following email was sent from a Plain Dealer employee to all PD and NEOMG staff. It relays the concerns as well or better than we or anyone else has, so we’ll just let them take over:
This is shameful. And that update does not change that fact.
Is this really the type of news organization NEOMG wants to be known as?
Who are the “people from across the region” asking that question? More importantly, how is it relevant to Tamir Rice’s death?
It isn’t. It simply isn’t. And adding a paragraph after-the-fact to try to justify your actions is borderline insulting.
Some in the region also have said race was a factor. So shall we scrutinize the officers’ parents? Perhaps one of their parents belongs to the Klan. Maybe the officer who fired on Tamir was taught as a child to fear all black men. That might be why the officer was quick to fire, “some in the region” might wonder.
Do we all realize that the WORLD is watching this story unfold?? Not just our readers, not just “some in the region,” and not just in North America. The WORLD is watching us. So again I ask, is this what NEOMG stands for?
I am not simply criticizing the reporter. Good journalism is achieved not just through years on the beat or getting clicks. A reporter becomes a good journalist through guidance from his or her editors, the example set by more-experienced peers, and most importantly, through the standards of the organization he or she works for.
So, along with scrutinizing this dead child’s parents and the household he grew up in for 12 years, maybe the leaders of NEOMG should examine their own house and the quality of the journalism coming out of it.
Folks, we’re better than this.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 2, 2014.
Who wrote this? It has to be Phi Morris. NEOMG is a fucking embarrassment and shame.
@Vince Grzegorek: Here’s the problem with your article: Your blatant liberal/progressive/leftist/unconditional forgiveness sentiments are just as offensive to law abiding, hard working, tax paying, God fearing people with conservative values, as the sensible concerns of the Plain Dealer article are to you. NEOMG was simply pointing out the very plausible relationship between the criminality of the boy’s parents(sic) and his pattern of behavior, especially in this incident. The only shameful aspect of this article was the feigned outrage by the apologist who embarrassed the original article’s reporter in order to placate the political correctness junkies. Take your rant to the ACLU, criminal defense attorneys, social workers, belligerent activists and all the other individuals and organization who make a living from offering excuses for uncivilized, unlawful and irresponsible behavior!
Whatever happened to let not the sins of the father be visited upon the son?
The truth will set you free. You don’t point a gun at perfect strangers without role models.
@Edward Vullo. There is no feigned outrage over the NEOMG story. It’s REAL outrage and it’s shared by many. And now you’re putting down social workers? You’re telling us that the dead by wasn’t civilized? Why, because he was black and was playing with a toy gun at a park? The history of the boy’s father had nothing to do with the shooting. Nothing. It doesn’t merit a story. Why didn’t NEOMG run a story about Darren Wilson’s mother, who was a criminal convicted of forgery? Perhaps it explains Officer Wilson’s behavior toward Mike Brown.
You are so wrong saying that this child’s background has no relevance on his tragic death, it is extremely relevant and could most likely be the entire basis that caused his untimely, tragic and yet justified death. If this child was exposed to an atmosphere, life events, music, tv, movies, a nieghborhood or even a combination of the many that showed him how to act or behave in the manner that caused this tragic event then it is entirely relevant. This too can be said for the officer(s) that had to make a split second decision with limited information and interaction with someone that reportedly had a weapon that could potentially cause lethal harm to them or the community. I pray for all affected by this tragedy. I hope that as someone involved in media/news outlet that they give me all of the facts so that I can make a better, more educated and appropriate personal decision based on facts and not feelings. Thank You, Sincerely, Pat Anastasia
Mark Naymik may be the worst journalist in the history of NE Ohio.
Journalism is not truth. It is sleight of hand, smoke and mirrors, and political interest is always pulling the strings. By playing the shell game with our curiosity, a talented journalist can spoon feed us the most heinous crime and tell us it was justified by casting doubt on the victim. It’s interesting, though, how so many refuse to perceive the lie even when it’s so outlandishly stupid as this one. This was a 12 year old boy. He deserved the benefit of the doubt. May your voice be heard around the world.
Oh, and to the guy who posted the first nasty retort @Edward Vullo–don’t use God’s name to support your personal biases. God has more class than that.
@Don’t Shoot: “Why didn’t NEOMG run a story about Darren Wilson’s mother, who was a criminal convicted of forgery?” Allow me to answer a question with a question – why didn’t the reporter scrutinize the content of this article?: “Expert says rec center shooting justified”. Is it because it didn’t fit in with his agenda? And how does the effect of Darren Wilson’s mother’s forgery charge on him in his handling of a life threatening situation compare to the affect on social behavior of a child whose parent is a convicted armed robber? Toy gun? No. Toy gun that looks very real with the orange tip purposely removed and that was being brandished at a public venue. Nice try, but self-serving nonsense nonetheless.
Edward Vullo, you vile idiotic subhuman, are a waste of oxygen and your words are plain shit!
Edward Vullo, I am no Liberal (or Conservative) and I try to look at things objectively, fairly, and with no agenda.
When a *12 year old boy*, playing with a fake gun, is fired upon and killed with *seconds* by police … (not to mention in the midst of national controversy over another police incident, mind you, when you’d think officers would be taking even more precautions than usual)… I THINK IT’S PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH POLICE IN THIS COUNTRY.
Apparently, in your view, if a child has a parent with a criminal record — or if a child’s parents might not happen to “fear God” or “work hard” (which for all we know Tamir’s parents might do both of these) — THAT THIS GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT THE RIGHT TO MURDER THAT CHILD, WITH NO REGARD FOR THE RULE OF LAW.
Edward Vullo, I hope and pray to God that you will be delivered from your shameful blindness and disgusting pride. If I were you, I’d fear God and his disgust with your outrageous line of thought.
12 year olds do not have the mind of an adult. Maybe he took the gun out to say, look, it’s not real. Most boys want toy guns, whom back in my day were no problem. My 9y/o grandson asked his parents for a bb gun unfortunately, I told them no way, don’t do it. Not faulting the boy or his parents.
@Patrick Deering–When you are 12, pointing a TOY gun at a stranger is not an unusual act. What level of judgment do you expect from a 12 year old child?
What kind of POLICE OFFICER shoots and kills a TWELVE YEAR OLD CHILD without ascertaining that the “weapon” he is brandishing is a TOY?
Ignore all Eddies comments. He’s that racist that runs that shit photography studio in Parma Foremost Foto
Lisa, would that be TV? Ohio is an open carry state. Don’t police say drop your weapon anymore?
The systematic black victim blaming by the media is a disgrace. When white people shoot up schools, it media chant is always, oh he was a nice quiet boy. Go get some journalistic integrity.
Isn’t Chris Quinn the same Chris Quinn that was caught withholding printing negative stories and not printing them in the PD about Bill Mason and his friends during the county corruption scandal? Because he was friends with Bill Mason or O’Malley? What does that say about is integrity and what he’s doing now as the person of power at NEOMG/Plain Dealer. Why is Quinn’s past not relevant to what is going on today?
Well then, a parent’s poor parenting DOES NOT lead to poor decision making skills in their children?? The Cudell area is gang-ridden and the police are, for obvious reasons, on edge whenever there is a kid with a gun strutting around pointing it at RTA commuters. I’d be scared as heck!
Below is a link to a picture posted on Tamir’s mom’s FB on the day of the shooting. The pic is of her other son. Bad parenting:
https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto…
Rudy Giuliani’s father was a convicted felon. So I guess there is something to be said for the apple not falling far from the tree.. But here the kid was playing with an Airsoft pellet gun. Is playing with an Airsoft pellet gun the kind of bad behavior that NEOMG is trying to explain by exploring the parents past. At least with Guuliani you have a guy who committed numerous heinous acts as mayor of the City f New York and numerous heinous acts as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
So, will parent’s crimes be good reasons for shooting white kids or does this only work with black people?
Well, I must say that posting my views on this site was a real eye opener. How quickly commenters strayed away from and distorted the point that I was originally trying to make so that they could justify their biases. The only respondents that I admire, whether in agreement or disagreement with me, are the ones who have the courage and forthrightness to reveal their identity instead of cowardly hiding behind cutesy screen names. @Xicano2: I would say that when you come down from whatever you’re high on, seek professional help. @nobody uknow: Replace the word “racist” with the work “realist”, and now you know what you’re talking about. And no operation survives for 40 years by offering a “shit” business of ANY kind.
Cops, according to experts on Domestic violence, commit acts of violence against their mates at twice the national rate. Did anyone look to see if this cop has a history of DV against the one he “loves” or did he come up in home where violence was prevalent? Was he abused as a child? Was he a victim of bullying? What is in this man’s background that allowed him to shoot this kid on sight? I think that might be more relevant to the story than whether or not this kid playing “cops & robbers” in the park has to do with his father’s criminal record.
Not blaming the victim in the case of thugs Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, both had extensive criminal records or violence and drug problems. In any event, George Zimmerman was the victim of Trayvon Martin’s attack as was Darren Wilson. And there is still no explanation from the radical left why Tamir Rice carried an airsoft gun around after taking off the orange tip. The only reason to do that was to threaten victims with a realist appearing firearm.
Reading these comments confirms all stereotypes related to Cleveland and it’s hilarious.
throwing these terms liberal and leftist around like its an insult? Fighting for equality for all HUMANS no matter socioeconomic Status while you dirt conservative right winged religious type want to maintain some overzealous social dominance over your neighbors and constantly fight and justify the opposition of equality?? The hell are you trying to conserve? He was a 12 year old boy shot in seconds.. Why did the police not take a safe distance? They knew from the call that it was “a toy gun”; regardless if it was missing the orange indicator Cleveland has an open carry law!!! Take a a safe distance use the intercom and get this boy back to his mother dammit. Grown ass men (police) should’ve used their judgement a bit better instead of being “afraid” for their lives.. YOU KNEW WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR WHEN YOU APPLIED. protect the people dammit serve them while maintaining the notion that you are not better than covilians. Fucking disgusting justifying this case.
I’m still astounded by people who think George Zimmerman was the victim and not Trayvon Martin. Trayvon was minding his own business and was followed by a stranger with a gun. Are black youth in America not allowed to perceive “Stranger Danger”? Why would he stop and entertain the questioning of Zimmerman? He didn’t know this man. Zimmerman wasn’t an officer of the law. Have you forgotten about John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dammer? They liked to kidnap and kill young men/boys; the latter having a specific “taste” for young black men. If Trayvon did in fact attack Zimmerman, it was because he was in fear for his life — remember, he was the one WITHOUT the gun. Trayvon was standing his ground!!! And Zimmerman was no angel. He had a long criminal history. See conservative favorite Fox News’ accounting: “A list of George Zimmerman’s past run-ins with the law” (Nov. 13, 2013). This is racism pure and simple. Had black Trayvon been instead white Trevor, and white/Hispanic George Zimmerman been black Jerome Washington, I’m sure the shooter would be serving a long prison sentence.
A 12 y/o death was “justified”?! Unreal. People who aay shit like this need God. Your hate for someone’s skin color is a sickness.
cleveland.scum
Edward Vullo, I think you are just full of shit and trying to justify something that your own parents showed you as a young child. I think you must have grown up believing that black people were not your equals or were subhuman or something and it’s just manifesting itself in your words right now. You try to hide behind conservative and God…give me a break. Go get some counseling or something. You are just a hypocrite and I think you know it. I hope you are not actually a business owner. Don’t you have something better to do than take out your own psychological issues here in this forum, like run your business? You’re the one that needs help.
Rathail Woods, couldn’t agree with you more.
because after all, Ralphie wanted that rifle because “domestic violence.” #YoullShootYourEyeOut #AChristmasStory
why would a child raised under constant home violence, drug dealing, parental arrests and absentee parents have anything to do with the child waving a tampered bb-gun at people in the park? no idea. as usual, never look at failures that may have placed the child in the situation he found himself, it is easier to blame others…a cultural habit
Barack Obama is half white, half black = black president. George Zimmerman is half white, half Hispanic = white shooter. Got it. Race baiting is alive and well in this writer’s world.