Good Day World!
What a difference a day, or two, makes.
Activists at the University of Missouri celebrated the resignation of the school's president on Monday after forcing him to quit.
When members of the media attempted to cover their victory celebration they were met with outright hostility and aggression! Watch this video.
After weeks of protests, activists with the Concerned Student 1950 group had turned their complaints of racism into a national story. But instead of welcoming the continued coverage, they acted like mindless morons with bad intentions.
Even faculty members were not above the madness. One member, identified by the Columbia Missourian as Greek Life and Leadership Assistant Director Janna Basler, blocked a student reporter and told him to leave.
Students and faculty were chanting “You don’t have the right to take our photos.” Excuse me? This is America and the media is allowed to take photos of public events.
As a retired journalist (newspaper editor), I was really offended by Melissa Click (see photo on top of page), an assistant professor of mass media (a courtesy title as it turns out), who joined the crazies in driving reporters away from the university quad.
On Tuesday, Click apologized for her actions in a statement issued by the Missouri Department of Communication. Shortly thereafter she resigned.
What really gets me is the hypocrisy:
The activists defended their actions, saying on Twitter that "it's typically white media who don't understand the importance of respecting black spaces."
Black spaces?
I wasn’t aware there were “black places” at a public university where whites shouldn’t tread. Ironically, the protestors black space was supposed to be a time for “fellowshipping for white, black, and other minorities(!)”
Apparently some sanity returned Tuesday and the protestors welcomed reporters after Monday’s madness.
Activists removed yard signs warning the media to stay away from their black space. The group who started the protests put out fliers saying it was a “teachable moment” and to welcome the media.
Imagine.
Time for me to walk on down the road…
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