Trashed police files
People are suggesting that we should not have published a story about the claims of the ministers that files related to the Klan-Nazi shootings were destroyed.
These complaints come up every time we write about the tragic 1979 event. The idea is that we're continuing to open up a wound in the city's history that would heal and be consigned to the archives if we would just leave it alone. But if you read some of the comments you might conclude that people actually enjoy examining it in detail.
In any case, three prominent activist ministers hold a news conference to claim that police trashed boxes and boxes of files pertaining to an event that got worldwide attention when it occurred. They had already met with the mayor (at the time) and the city manager to ask the city to look into it. The police department is now talking with the DA's office to determine if any laws were broken.
By any definition, this is news. (Best I can tell, the four local television news teams agreed.) If it turns out that the ministers were wrong and that the files are safely gathering dust in a secure location, we'll report that, too.
It isn't part of a journalist's wiring to think "let's ignore this news because we don't like the messengers or because it's upsetting." Some commenters suggest that no one cares about it. But given the number of comments here, here, here, here and here, it seems as if there is a great deal of interest in it.
Comments (14)
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The whole deal smells of agenda.
Will you report that too?
Posted on February 27, 2008 4:46 PM
What and whose agenda are you smelling?
Posted on February 27, 2008 4:52 PM
"What and whose agenda are you smelling?"
Their own agenda......The "Keep the Victimization Meme Alive" agenda that gets trotted out to varying effect every now and then.
Other agendas in play here are strictly based on the need to divert attention away from other current events.
Posted on February 27, 2008 5:08 PM
John, I believe you are giving Nelson Johnson undeserved print.. What has he EVER done to help anyone here in Greensboro? I believe he has caused enormous problems for all of us.
On Judgement Day I hope I 'm not in the same line with him.
Posted on February 27, 2008 5:51 PM
If Nelson Johnson were not one of the ministers...if it were just the two or included a third minister without Johnson's history...would you still say we should ignore the issue?
Posted on February 27, 2008 5:59 PM
In any case, three prominent activist ministers hold a news conference
Prominent activist indeed! I thought these folks were CWP members that evolved themselves into the pulpit forum! JR this event was nothing more than the usual smoke and mirrors to take the heat off of others and you gave it a life by headlining it. Hopefully in the future FOX will present these matters with point/counterpoint fair and balanced reviews.
Posted on February 27, 2008 6:14 PM
Beau, please, we were having a serious discussion here. To correct you, only Johnson was a CWP member.
You might direct the FOX references to WGHP, which did its own story on the news conference.
Posted on February 27, 2008 6:19 PM
Beau, please, we were having a serious discussion here. To correct you, only Johnson was a CWP member.
You might direct the FOX references to WGHP, which did its own story on the news conference.
I thought I was being articulate, (you were just being facetious ......right) after all you felt it significant enough to respond, which usually means you've touched some kind of a nerve. From what I've gleened from various sorces, including the N&R, Johnson was at least one of the ring leaders, and he continues to be one todate, presenting himself as a CWP member, so I feel, I can reasonably assume, (if you go to bed at night and the ground is clear but wake up in the morning and there's snow on the ground you can reasonably "assume" it snowed) that others that followed his direction felt as he did, aka followers, or maybe they were just members in training. Darn, that evening I missed the WGHP news program.
Posted on February 27, 2008 6:50 PM
Sorry. I didn't mean to touch a nerve. But it's my understanding that the CWP is defunct. And given that Johnson is a minister and preaches the word of God, I doubt he is a communist. And, of course, that means your conclusion about the others involved is baseless, too.
Posted on February 27, 2008 7:32 PM
Time to resurrect the Truth and Reconciliation Commission - don't you think?
Posted on February 27, 2008 9:36 PM
You gleefully provide Nelson Johnson and his ilk a forum for his bogus, unsubstantiated, dog-and-pony show but fail miserably at doing any research or background on the subject matter, i.e., police records retention, for your story.
You're not reporting, your shilling for Nelson Johnson.
Posted on February 28, 2008 7:20 PM
Preaches the word of God? Then how about turning the other cheek, and forgiving your enemies.
Posted on February 29, 2008 6:12 AM
I'm just curious. How many more newspapers do you sell after dragging this waist of time and energy up from the grave.
Posted on March 1, 2008 8:23 AM
If you had read my latest post on Friday, you would know the answer to that.
In short, probably not many. Heck, the last two stories we have written about it were not on the front page so how would people wanting to read about the case know to buy the paper?
Posted on March 1, 2008 9:17 AM