Breaking: The Mayor of Minneapolis is not in a gang
November 7, 2014 12:49 PM Subscribe
Twin Cities TV station KSTP ran a story alleging that Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges threw gang signs titled "Mpls. Mayor Flashes Gang Sign with Convicted Felon; Law Enforcement Outraged."
Shawn King suggests it's an early frontrunner for most racist news story of 2014.
Commentator Nekima Levy-Pounds points out that the media went to tired stereotypes instead of telling the actual story of civic engagement.
Images tagged #Pointergate have proliferated online.
Former Minnesota Viking Chris Kluwe refuses to weigh in, saying he "can only deal with one 'gate' idiocy at a time", despite the fact that this one actually is about journalism ethics.
Related Keith Knight comic: How To Discern An Innocent Hand Gesture From A Gang Sign
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:51 PM on November 7, 2014 [52 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:51 PM on November 7, 2014 [52 favorites]
Lots of people join gangs because the mayor told them to, though.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:56 PM on November 7, 2014 [12 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:56 PM on November 7, 2014 [12 favorites]
If I were her I'd be gesturing with a different finger.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:57 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:57 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
I've seen Betsy Hodges speak several times. She is charismatic, hilarious, and extremely personable. People have called her "naive" but I don't really see it -- I don't think you get to be mayor of an extremely politically active city by being naive.
The problem is that Minneapolis is a diverse, liberal city of less than 400K people in the middle of a 90% white, conservative metro area of 3.2 million people. Many people who watch KSTP literally have zero interaction with black people and wouldn't go to the black neighborhoods unless you kidnapped them. Betsy has to answer to Minneapolis residents while also being a figurehead for the entire metro area which has very different politics. It's an impossible job.
posted by miyabo at 12:58 PM on November 7, 2014 [18 favorites]
The problem is that Minneapolis is a diverse, liberal city of less than 400K people in the middle of a 90% white, conservative metro area of 3.2 million people. Many people who watch KSTP literally have zero interaction with black people and wouldn't go to the black neighborhoods unless you kidnapped them. Betsy has to answer to Minneapolis residents while also being a figurehead for the entire metro area which has very different politics. It's an impossible job.
posted by miyabo at 12:58 PM on November 7, 2014 [18 favorites]
Here's the former mayor of my city (on the right) flashing the same sign. He wasn't in a gang either.
posted by octothorpe at 12:58 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 12:58 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
"[P]uts police officers at risk."
Ow.
Ow, my eyes.
I rolled them too hard, ow.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 12:58 PM on November 7, 2014 [21 favorites]
Ow.
Ow, my eyes.
I rolled them too hard, ow.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 12:58 PM on November 7, 2014 [21 favorites]
https://twitter.com/Beymonce/status/530673395147759617/photo/1
"@JayKollsKSTP @tomelko guess who else kills people. Drunk drivers. " (with a picture of the journalist's DUI mug shot)
(There's probably a better way to format that, I know, I know...)
posted by Setec Astronomy at 12:59 PM on November 7, 2014 [45 favorites]
"@JayKollsKSTP @tomelko guess who else kills people. Drunk drivers. " (with a picture of the journalist's DUI mug shot)
(There's probably a better way to format that, I know, I know...)
posted by Setec Astronomy at 12:59 PM on November 7, 2014 [45 favorites]
"[P]uts police officers at risk."
If using a "dehumanizing stare" can put Police officers at risk, then so can anything! That's why they need tanks and machine guns, having to go outside and run would put them at risk!
posted by The Whelk at 1:01 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Bill Clinton flashing gang signs with convicted felon
posted by Cash4Lead at 1:02 PM on November 7, 2014 [39 favorites]
posted by Cash4Lead at 1:02 PM on November 7, 2014 [39 favorites]
KSTP has always been the lamest of the stations in town, but this is just….yikes, I am ashamed for them.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:03 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:03 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you are a local, you might want to get involved with the Coalition for Critical Change, a Twin Cities area group which started in the wake of Mike Brown's death to work against police brutality.
Their Facebook page has a number of useful links, including this Think Progress article about the criminalization of black youth in Minneapolis.
The Facebook page links this article from the Smoke and Mirrors series from TruthOut (and I know that TruthOut has its problems) but it was originally published at Critical Mass Progress. It's part of a series that is published (but not entirely written by) Nancy Heitzig, a local sociology professor.
I went to the first couple of CfCC meetings but was unable to attend the last two - I'd like to get back involved, so if you're planning on attending (or would attend if you had someone to go with; I hate going to meetings all alone) you are welcome to shoot me a memail.
It seems like a group that is a funny mixture of reform and radical, but everyone that I have met or heard speak from the group has seemed very reliable and relate-able, even the people whose politics skew a little centrist. It was one of the first meetings I'd been to where I really felt confident that everyone was sincere and focused in their desire to work together, and everyone seemed willing to take multiple approaches rather than just beat their own drum.
This city is just so racist - it really sucks. Because I am white and because I am fortunate to spend more time in multiracial places, and because everyone talks a good game, it's so easy for me to forget how deeply entrenched it is. Also because this is a very segregated city where people are very good at playing off different groups against each other - Somali immigrants against US-born African-Americans, for instance, where sometimes one group will be depicted as "good" and the other as "bad", but there's an underlying belief that both groups "don't belong here".
posted by Frowner at 1:04 PM on November 7, 2014 [20 favorites]
Their Facebook page has a number of useful links, including this Think Progress article about the criminalization of black youth in Minneapolis.
The Facebook page links this article from the Smoke and Mirrors series from TruthOut (and I know that TruthOut has its problems) but it was originally published at Critical Mass Progress. It's part of a series that is published (but not entirely written by) Nancy Heitzig, a local sociology professor.
I went to the first couple of CfCC meetings but was unable to attend the last two - I'd like to get back involved, so if you're planning on attending (or would attend if you had someone to go with; I hate going to meetings all alone) you are welcome to shoot me a memail.
It seems like a group that is a funny mixture of reform and radical, but everyone that I have met or heard speak from the group has seemed very reliable and relate-able, even the people whose politics skew a little centrist. It was one of the first meetings I'd been to where I really felt confident that everyone was sincere and focused in their desire to work together, and everyone seemed willing to take multiple approaches rather than just beat their own drum.
This city is just so racist - it really sucks. Because I am white and because I am fortunate to spend more time in multiracial places, and because everyone talks a good game, it's so easy for me to forget how deeply entrenched it is. Also because this is a very segregated city where people are very good at playing off different groups against each other - Somali immigrants against US-born African-Americans, for instance, where sometimes one group will be depicted as "good" and the other as "bad", but there's an underlying belief that both groups "don't belong here".
posted by Frowner at 1:04 PM on November 7, 2014 [20 favorites]
Can I just say that I'm tired of Chris Kluwe being the go-to liberal in stories? I'm sure he's an okay fellow, but c'mon...enough.
And if that's a gang sign, then every picture "Stephen Colbert" takes with someone or something is him flashing a gang sign.
posted by inturnaround at 1:04 PM on November 7, 2014 [8 favorites]
And if that's a gang sign, then every picture "Stephen Colbert" takes with someone or something is him flashing a gang sign.
posted by inturnaround at 1:04 PM on November 7, 2014 [8 favorites]
This city is just so racist - it really sucks.
I live here, I'm a minority, and I disagree.
There are racists everywhere, in every city, but I don't see the Twin Cities as a hotbed of racism. YMMV.
posted by Setec Astronomy at 1:06 PM on November 7, 2014 [8 favorites]
I live here, I'm a minority, and I disagree.
There are racists everywhere, in every city, but I don't see the Twin Cities as a hotbed of racism. YMMV.
posted by Setec Astronomy at 1:06 PM on November 7, 2014 [8 favorites]
Jay Kolls' twitter response feed is.... well, it's certainly something.
By the way, are the Stick Up Boys really a thing? It sounds like a gang in a 1960's musical.
posted by Dr-Baa at 1:07 PM on November 7, 2014 [6 favorites]
By the way, are the Stick Up Boys really a thing? It sounds like a gang in a 1960's musical.
posted by Dr-Baa at 1:07 PM on November 7, 2014 [6 favorites]
Remember when President and Mrs. Obama exchanged a fist bump at a campaign event, and a certain segment of white America was outspokenly alarmed by this bizarre but clearly threatening gesture?
Sigh. Fuck you, racist white people – and die in a fire, two-bit local news agencies that pander to them. Not being a bigoted fuckwit isn't that hard.
(I am white)
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:08 PM on November 7, 2014 [19 favorites]
Sigh. Fuck you, racist white people – and die in a fire, two-bit local news agencies that pander to them. Not being a bigoted fuckwit isn't that hard.
(I am white)
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:08 PM on November 7, 2014 [19 favorites]
Former Minnesota Viking Chris Kluwe refuses to weigh in, saying he "can only deal with one 'gate' idiocy at a time", despite the fact that this one actually is about journalism ethics.
As if he thought the other one was?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:09 PM on November 7, 2014
As if he thought the other one was?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:09 PM on November 7, 2014
This shit goes all the way to the top, people.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:09 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 1:09 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
Can't decide if racists or imbeciles.
Fuck it. Why not both?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:11 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Fuck it. Why not both?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:11 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Wow. WOW. WOW. I like to think that many of our country's race issues are generally embedded within bigger social processes, and that while we all carry difficult baggage with us that slips out to terrible, stupid consequences, it usually isn't a thing. This doesn't help.
And besides, should mayors not pose with former criminals? Are ex-cons some sort of cancer that must be expunged from public life and perception? Because, I mean, there are a lot of them...
posted by Going To Maine at 1:12 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
And besides, should mayors not pose with former criminals? Are ex-cons some sort of cancer that must be expunged from public life and perception? Because, I mean, there are a lot of them...
posted by Going To Maine at 1:12 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Can't decide if racists or assholes.
Raceholes.
posted by hangashore at 1:12 PM on November 7, 2014 [6 favorites]
Raceholes.
posted by hangashore at 1:12 PM on November 7, 2014 [6 favorites]
OMG. Watch the video in the main linked article. It includes video of the actual photo in question being taken and it is so clearly the two of them pointing at each other I can't even believe this racist, drunk-driving, asshole journalist still has a job.
posted by misskaz at 1:13 PM on November 7, 2014 [23 favorites]
posted by misskaz at 1:13 PM on November 7, 2014 [23 favorites]
When asked to respond to the mayor's statement that she is just "pointing at him," he said, "She can't be that naive. I cannot imagine."Okay, lets parse this a little bit. It's this former Police officer assertion that she knowingly flashed a gang sign, while mugging it up for the cameras. So, this is a Mayor, right? And it's this dudes assertion that she "Can't be that naive." So, this was a political move on her part, to win over the gang vote? I mean, if she knew this was a gang sign, and was flashing it, it was an INTENTIONAL POLITICAL ACT? Really? Really? Rob Ford is smarter than that.
The entire premise of the story makes absolutely no sense.
So yeah, I think its fair to go with KSTP is a bunch of racist assholes. Also worth pointing out that this is not a FOX station, this is an ABC station. I mention this because if it were a FOX station, we'd all be noting that as a data point in our analysis of how racist these
posted by el io at 1:15 PM on November 7, 2014 [14 favorites]
Going by the great Chris Rock, the only two black people in Minnesota were Prince and Kirby Puckett.
posted by dr_dank at 1:16 PM on November 7, 2014
posted by dr_dank at 1:16 PM on November 7, 2014
I recently watched a political speech and was shocked that the speaker seemed to have hired a lackey whole sole purpose was to throw out hand signs for every gang imaginable! While I was in the middle of writing an angry protest letter somebody told me it was just an ASL interpreter, but I'm still mad.
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:16 PM on November 7, 2014 [30 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:16 PM on November 7, 2014 [30 favorites]
By the way, are the Stick Up Boys really a thing? It sounds like a gang in a 1960's musical.
According to this article there is a very small group that calls themselves the "Stick Up Boys" in Minneapolis, but Jay Kolls likely had to dig pretty deep to find the name of a gang that could conceivably have that gang sign.
"Stick up boy" is also slang for a dude who robs drug dealers.
posted by muddgirl at 1:17 PM on November 7, 2014
According to this article there is a very small group that calls themselves the "Stick Up Boys" in Minneapolis, but Jay Kolls likely had to dig pretty deep to find the name of a gang that could conceivably have that gang sign.
"Stick up boy" is also slang for a dude who robs drug dealers.
posted by muddgirl at 1:17 PM on November 7, 2014
Can I just say that I'm tired of Chris Kluwe being the go-to liberal in stories? I'm sure he's an okay fellow, but c'mon...enough.
He's an outspoken ally for the less-privileged who was fired from the Minneapolis/Minnesota team for his views so I think turning to him on this one was totally reasonable.
This city is just so racist - it really sucks.
I am also a minority who lives in the Twin Cities (and not in the city, in suburban 6th District Bachmann/Emmer land even), and I disagree. Maybe it's damning with faint praise but MSP is really not such a bad place to be black, the insta-backlash on this story is just one of the things that proves it.
posted by sparklemotion at 1:18 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
He's an outspoken ally for the less-privileged who was fired from the Minneapolis/Minnesota team for his views so I think turning to him on this one was totally reasonable.
This city is just so racist - it really sucks.
I am also a minority who lives in the Twin Cities (and not in the city, in suburban 6th District Bachmann/Emmer land even), and I disagree. Maybe it's damning with faint praise but MSP is really not such a bad place to be black, the insta-backlash on this story is just one of the things that proves it.
posted by sparklemotion at 1:18 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
Clearly, what we need is a public education campaign to teach people what gang signs are, so that no one can possibly be that naive ever again.
posted by rtha at 1:19 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 1:19 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
In addition to racism, this is also about the police union trying to hurt Mayor Hodges, and KSTP, owned by local conservative rich-guy Stanley Hubbard, playing along. Hodges dared to reform a corrupt Police and Fire pension system back when she was on the City Council (the two unions have never forgiven her), has been in favor of policy wearing body cameras, and has dared to say (in fairly mild language) that the MPD needs to be reformed.
posted by Area Man at 1:21 PM on November 7, 2014 [49 favorites]
posted by Area Man at 1:21 PM on November 7, 2014 [49 favorites]
Snoop Dogg flashes gang signs with a convicted felon is probably my favourite response to this.
Is....is he flashing "the shocker" at Martha Stewart?
posted by Hoopo at 1:24 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Is....is he flashing "the shocker" at Martha Stewart?
posted by Hoopo at 1:24 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Area Man on the money. From a comment on Nekima Levy-Pounds' piece:
"I really hope there is a deeper journalistic investigation to this story. One that touches on why the Chief of Police and Mayor are being targeted by the Minneapolis Police and their Union."
Indeed. From KSTP's statement:
"Law enforcement sources alerted KSTP-TV to a photo they believed could jeopardize public safety and put their officers at risk, especially given the recent increase in gang violence. Multiple sources from several law enforcement agencies told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the photo had the potential for undermining the work they are doing on the streets. 5 Eyewitness News blurred the individual's face and did not name the group he was working for because police called into question only the judgment of Mayor Betsy Hodges."
posted by FrauMaschine at 1:26 PM on November 7, 2014 [5 favorites]
"I really hope there is a deeper journalistic investigation to this story. One that touches on why the Chief of Police and Mayor are being targeted by the Minneapolis Police and their Union."
Indeed. From KSTP's statement:
"Law enforcement sources alerted KSTP-TV to a photo they believed could jeopardize public safety and put their officers at risk, especially given the recent increase in gang violence. Multiple sources from several law enforcement agencies told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the photo had the potential for undermining the work they are doing on the streets. 5 Eyewitness News blurred the individual's face and did not name the group he was working for because police called into question only the judgment of Mayor Betsy Hodges."
posted by FrauMaschine at 1:26 PM on November 7, 2014 [5 favorites]
One of my students sent me a christmas card on which he was making the peace sign, only he did it backwards, and so was unintentionally flipping the (British double) bird to all the people his family sent that card to... only now I realize that it wasn't unintentional, he meant to flip us all off, the little hooligan.
posted by Huck500 at 1:27 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Huck500 at 1:27 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
I live here, I'm a minority, and I disagree.
Obviously I'm not a minority, so my actual personal experience isn't relevant at all. My feelings have been based on many conversations with friends and acquaintances of color about how racist they find it here (and also on some statistics about how awful policing is here given that we are a mid-sized city) but I know this varies hugely by person and all kinds of factors. I've just had a lot of conversations - some with semi-strangers of that "we are both at the bus stop and I am having a really frustrating day so I'm going to talk to you" kind - where people of color have expressed a lot of frustration and anger about this city.
posted by Frowner at 1:32 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Obviously I'm not a minority, so my actual personal experience isn't relevant at all. My feelings have been based on many conversations with friends and acquaintances of color about how racist they find it here (and also on some statistics about how awful policing is here given that we are a mid-sized city) but I know this varies hugely by person and all kinds of factors. I've just had a lot of conversations - some with semi-strangers of that "we are both at the bus stop and I am having a really frustrating day so I'm going to talk to you" kind - where people of color have expressed a lot of frustration and anger about this city.
posted by Frowner at 1:32 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
OMG that Twitter feed.
Shut the fuck up already, dude.
posted by Madamina at 1:33 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Shut the fuck up already, dude.
posted by Madamina at 1:33 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
" 5 Eyewitness News blurred the individual's face and did not name the group he was working for because [it makes people look like scary criminals]"
posted by kiltedtaco at 1:40 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by kiltedtaco at 1:40 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
Raceholes
This seems like a useful epithet. I will keep it handy.
posted by emjaybee at 1:40 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
This seems like a useful epithet. I will keep it handy.
posted by emjaybee at 1:40 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
By the way, are the Stick Up Boys really a thing?
Oh, indeed.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 1:40 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
Oh, indeed.
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 1:40 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
As a former Twin Cities journalist -- are there other journalists calling him out for this? Because, ignoring its fundamental idiocy, it is racist at its core, and I would have never let him live it down.
posted by maxsparber at 1:41 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by maxsparber at 1:41 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
"I really hope there is a deeper journalistic investigation to this story. One that touches on why the Chief of Police and Mayor are being targeted by the Minneapolis Police and their Union."
Perhaps just too much free time, because, unlike their comrades in the St. Paul Police, they may lack a bank building skyway in which to keep busy by hassling random black citizens picking their kids up from pre-school.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:42 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
Perhaps just too much free time, because, unlike their comrades in the St. Paul Police, they may lack a bank building skyway in which to keep busy by hassling random black citizens picking their kids up from pre-school.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:42 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
Frowner, I sent you a memail.
posted by triggerfinger at 1:44 PM on November 7, 2014
posted by triggerfinger at 1:44 PM on November 7, 2014
Perhaps just too much free time, because, unlike their comrades in the St. Paul Police, they may lack a bank building skyway in which to keep busy by hassling random black citizens picking their kids up from pre-school.
You take that back! Minneapolis is filled with bank-building skyways (U.S. Bank Plaza and U.S. Bancorp Center both come to mind) and our cops do far more than their fair share of hassling black guys.
posted by Area Man at 1:49 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
You take that back! Minneapolis is filled with bank-building skyways (U.S. Bank Plaza and U.S. Bancorp Center both come to mind) and our cops do far more than their fair share of hassling black guys.
posted by Area Man at 1:49 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
So, apparently the reporter has a DUI conviction under his belt.
So I wanted to see what was a greater menace to the Minneapolis area: drunk drivers, or gangs.
According to this, there were 20 gang related killings half way through the year. According to this there were 81 drunk driving related deaths in the state last year. Over half the state lives in the twin city area... Which means drunk driving kills a bit more people (if you trust my hasty napkin math) than gang violence in the city.
But I imagine a lot of those gang related deaths were gang-on-gang related. So if you are an average person living in the city, who doesn't have relationships with gangs (or the drug trade) you are at greater danger from a random drunk driver than you are from the city's gang problem.
In short, people like the reporter make the city more dangerous for its average residents than the average gang member.
posted by el io at 1:52 PM on November 7, 2014 [19 favorites]
So I wanted to see what was a greater menace to the Minneapolis area: drunk drivers, or gangs.
According to this, there were 20 gang related killings half way through the year. According to this there were 81 drunk driving related deaths in the state last year. Over half the state lives in the twin city area... Which means drunk driving kills a bit more people (if you trust my hasty napkin math) than gang violence in the city.
But I imagine a lot of those gang related deaths were gang-on-gang related. So if you are an average person living in the city, who doesn't have relationships with gangs (or the drug trade) you are at greater danger from a random drunk driver than you are from the city's gang problem.
In short, people like the reporter make the city more dangerous for its average residents than the average gang member.
posted by el io at 1:52 PM on November 7, 2014 [19 favorites]
Pointing at someone else is a dangerous activity. Just like sitting on a bench means you should get tased.
I know it's a different city, but I'm just not enthused about Minnesota police right now.
posted by halifix at 1:53 PM on November 7, 2014
I know it's a different city, but I'm just not enthused about Minnesota police right now.
posted by halifix at 1:53 PM on November 7, 2014
On second thought, I'm reserving my opinion on this story until I truly know what Chris Kluwe thinks.
#WWCKD?
posted by Setec Astronomy at 1:54 PM on November 7, 2014
#WWCKD?
posted by Setec Astronomy at 1:54 PM on November 7, 2014
Max - MPR has been politely condemning it on air but Bob Collins (first link) is taking a much stronger tone in the comments sections of MPR's website and on Twitter. It's been complete crickets on Kare11 (NBC) and WCCO (CBS).
posted by nathan_teske at 1:54 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by nathan_teske at 1:54 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Max - MPR has been politely condemning it on air but Bob Collins (first link) is taking a much stronger tone in the comments sections of MPR's website and on Twitter. It's been complete crickets on Kare11 (NBC) and WCCO (CBS).
Ah, good old Bob. Cranky as ever, god bless him.
posted by maxsparber at 2:01 PM on November 7, 2014 [6 favorites]
Ah, good old Bob. Cranky as ever, god bless him.
posted by maxsparber at 2:01 PM on November 7, 2014 [6 favorites]
Tempest in a teacup (flashing a gang sign)
posted by blue_beetle at 2:08 PM on November 7, 2014
posted by blue_beetle at 2:08 PM on November 7, 2014
People on Twitter have suggested taking this to the Federal Communications Commission: fcc.gov/complaints (under "Broadcast (TV and Radio), Cable, and Satellite Issues," "Unauthorized/unfair/biased/illegal broadcasts" / "Biased or distorted news stories by the media"). Sounds tailor-made for this bullshit.
posted by FrauMaschine at 2:13 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by FrauMaschine at 2:13 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
You can't be that naive.
I love that this was actually a police officer's response to the idea that a white-collar executive might not be familiar with a local street gang's sign. As if it is somehow obvious that the mayor is going to throw her set on camera in order to win over the coveted Stick Up Boys demographic.
posted by Hoopo at 2:14 PM on November 7, 2014 [16 favorites]
I love that this was actually a police officer's response to the idea that a white-collar executive might not be familiar with a local street gang's sign. As if it is somehow obvious that the mayor is going to throw her set on camera in order to win over the coveted Stick Up Boys demographic.
posted by Hoopo at 2:14 PM on November 7, 2014 [16 favorites]
I genuinely love that this started out as a hilarious KSTP stepping-in-shit incident and has slowly morphed into an examination into the structural shittiness of the Minneapolis police union. I love this city, but man do the MPD have a lot of crap baggage.
posted by COBRA! at 2:23 PM on November 7, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by COBRA! at 2:23 PM on November 7, 2014 [8 favorites]
Retired Minneapolis police officer Michael Quinn, who also managed the department's Internal Affairs Unit, says the photo is "disappointing because it puts police officers at risk."I know of one officer in particular who is at risk of sounding like a concern trolling tool...
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 3:05 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
In related news, Minneapolis police are scouring the Facebook pages of the local African-American youth population, looking for evidence of possible crimes that have gone undiscovered.
Remember folks, its not just the news station that's racist as fuck.
posted by el io at 3:08 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
Remember folks, its not just the news station that's racist as fuck.
posted by el io at 3:08 PM on November 7, 2014 [4 favorites]
I saw a joke on Twitter back at the dawn of gamergate that went something like: "Imagine if Nixon's goons were caught breaking into the Waldorf hotel instead of the Watergate. Names of purported scandals would end in -dorf"
posted by exogenous at 3:33 PM on November 7, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by exogenous at 3:33 PM on November 7, 2014 [7 favorites]
Bob Collins is destroying KSTP on Twitter and it is a pleasure to watch.
posted by maxsparber at 3:35 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by maxsparber at 3:35 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
So far as I can see, "Retired Minneapolis Police officer Michael Quinn" seems to be Patient Zero for this gang sign notion. I know nothing of him, so I am going to go with this as my mental image.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:09 PM on November 7, 2014
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:09 PM on November 7, 2014
Man, I love this city, but today is not a proud day.
posted by cthuljew at 4:34 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by cthuljew at 4:34 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
KSTP has been the second rate gas station of local news for decades. Hubbard is a giant cheapskate, the building is a shambles, and the journalism is a tire fire. They cater to the single, aging, cranky old man demographic. Since they don't have anywhere near the KMSP-FOX money, and they can't court "the liberals"/compete with 'CCO or KARE, so they have to really comb the bottom of the barrel for Local, Gritty, News. And this is what you end up with.
What the hell is going on at the MPD? Couldn't tell you, but it can't be good.
AnecdoteFilter: Secondhand, but the St Paul cop I know said that he heard from a MPD cop that it's an utter shitshow over there. That command is completely out of touch with the rank and file, and the infighting has gotten out of hand. Sure, it's a bit Ferris Bueller passed out at the 31 flavors, and it's from a Saint Paul cop, so take that with a grain of salt, but at the end of the day this can't be any good for any of us here.
posted by Sphinx at 5:33 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
What the hell is going on at the MPD? Couldn't tell you, but it can't be good.
AnecdoteFilter: Secondhand, but the St Paul cop I know said that he heard from a MPD cop that it's an utter shitshow over there. That command is completely out of touch with the rank and file, and the infighting has gotten out of hand. Sure, it's a bit Ferris Bueller passed out at the 31 flavors, and it's from a Saint Paul cop, so take that with a grain of salt, but at the end of the day this can't be any good for any of us here.
posted by Sphinx at 5:33 PM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
Yeah, I work on a neighborhood committee combatting slumlords and crime, and our leader is prone to occasional overreach. He likes to make a lot of the fact that a city councillor in the next county was arrested on coke charges a few years ago as evidence that "they are trying to infiltrate government" instead of evidence that anyone can have a drug problem. There was also someone on probation who violated his geographical limits last month, but it turned out he was a political GOTV volunteer who had been given a random assignment of follow-up addresses.
posted by dhartung at 5:33 PM on November 7, 2014
posted by dhartung at 5:33 PM on November 7, 2014
MetaFilter: the coveted Stick Up Boys demographic
posted by oneirodynia at 5:35 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by oneirodynia at 5:35 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
If I facepalm any harder I'm going to die of CTE caused by repeated brain trauma.
posted by eriko at 6:16 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by eriko at 6:16 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
eriko are you openly stating your allegiance to the notorious facepalm boys
posted by poffin boffin at 6:23 PM on November 7, 2014 [26 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 6:23 PM on November 7, 2014 [26 favorites]
Nthing what Sphinx said. The people who watch KSTP news are the same people who view eating dinner at Perkins as an extravagance.
posted by wintermute2_0 at 6:25 PM on November 7, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by wintermute2_0 at 6:25 PM on November 7, 2014 [5 favorites]
Yeah I work at the university, and seeing the KSTP newsfan is pretty much instant cause for an eye roll everytime.
posted by Think_Long at 7:41 PM on November 7, 2014
posted by Think_Long at 7:41 PM on November 7, 2014
So far as I can see, "Retired Minneapolis Police officer Michael Quinn" seems to be Patient Zero for this gang sign notion. I know nothing of him, so I am going to go with this as my mental image.
For me, this springs to mind.
posted by TedW at 7:46 PM on November 7, 2014
For me, this springs to mind.
posted by TedW at 7:46 PM on November 7, 2014
Wait. Let me guess. Mayor Betsy Hodges is a democrat and the people attacking her are... republican?
posted by freakazoid at 8:10 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by freakazoid at 8:10 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
KSTP just led the 10pm news with this story and let me tell you it was some bullshit.
posted by triggerfinger at 8:14 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 8:14 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
I do believe it was KSTP that declared with gravitas during the attacks on September 11 what a great coincidence the date was 9-11, as in 911, get it? Isn't that an amazing coincidence, for all you folks in the hinterland who might be askeered, and when we come back we'll tell you how these attacks might affect the Mall of America. (It was about that time that I almost threw something really heavy into the TV but we changed channels instead and urge to destroy stupid subsided...)
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 9:22 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 9:22 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
"Retired Minneapolis Police officer Michael Quinn"
A good thing he is retired, because anybody who thinks gang signs (sic) threaten police is such a massive crybaby he needs to be fired from his job immediately for gross incompetence and unsuitability for police work.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:27 AM on November 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
A good thing he is retired, because anybody who thinks gang signs (sic) threaten police is such a massive crybaby he needs to be fired from his job immediately for gross incompetence and unsuitability for police work.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:27 AM on November 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
My dad and I were talking about this last night, and we are both more supportive of the mayor than before. Her enemies and their racist tactics are a credit to her. I didn't understand how threatened the police are by the idea of wearing body cameras, but I'm very much in favor of them now.
I've also seen friends on Facebook making a point of donating to Neighborhoods Organizing for Change to show their support for Navell Gordon.
posted by Area Man at 3:49 AM on November 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
I've also seen friends on Facebook making a point of donating to Neighborhoods Organizing for Change to show their support for Navell Gordon.
posted by Area Man at 3:49 AM on November 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
Remember when President and Mrs. Obama exchanged a fist bump at a campaign event, and a certain segment of white America was outspokenly alarmed by this bizarre but clearly threatening gesture?
The Terrorist Fist Bump. My recollection is that that read of that gesture was so bizarre and paranoid that it became a somewhat ironic rallying cry for Obama supporters, and was an asset to his popularity by illustrating exactly what kind of insanity the opposition believed.
posted by krinklyfig at 4:46 AM on November 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
The Terrorist Fist Bump. My recollection is that that read of that gesture was so bizarre and paranoid that it became a somewhat ironic rallying cry for Obama supporters, and was an asset to his popularity by illustrating exactly what kind of insanity the opposition believed.
posted by krinklyfig at 4:46 AM on November 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
You know who else throws hand signs? The Illuminati. Some people honestly believe fanciful things.
I don't know MLPS politics but it don't know that the Mayor from the looks of her is the sort that builds set cred. Who's next, Keillor?
posted by Ogre Lawless at 4:48 AM on November 8, 2014
I don't know MLPS politics but it don't know that the Mayor from the looks of her is the sort that builds set cred. Who's next, Keillor?
posted by Ogre Lawless at 4:48 AM on November 8, 2014
Maybe I'm clueless, or just not above average, but this looks like a Wobegon Boys sign to me.
posted by jeribus at 7:04 AM on November 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by jeribus at 7:04 AM on November 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
And why not? People in Congress flash gang signs all of the time, only they do it with bushy eyebrows.
posted by Twang at 8:59 AM on November 8, 2014
posted by Twang at 8:59 AM on November 8, 2014
The people who watch KSTP news are the same people who view eating dinner at Perkins as an extravagance.I dunno about this comment. It seems a little classist to me.
posted by valrus at 9:17 AM on November 8, 2014 [3 favorites]
It's funny, if you look at the journalistic hack in question's Twitter timeline, how obvious it is that someone within the MPD is always feeding him hot "tips" and leaking emails.
posted by COBRA! at 9:44 AM on November 8, 2014
posted by COBRA! at 9:44 AM on November 8, 2014
I dunno about this comment. It seems a little classist to me.
Well obviously -- Perkins is trash compared to Bakers Square.
posted by nathan_teske at 10:00 AM on November 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
Well obviously -- Perkins is trash compared to Bakers Square.
posted by nathan_teske at 10:00 AM on November 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm flashing the Bridgeman's sign at y'all from the 612
posted by advicepig at 3:38 PM on November 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by advicepig at 3:38 PM on November 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
They merged with another gang, yo! You have to flash the Loon Express sign!
posted by maxsparber at 4:49 PM on November 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by maxsparber at 4:49 PM on November 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Naturally this has shown up in the Chicago Tribune here framed nicely in this headline: "Minneapolis mayor denies making gang sign with community organizer." You see, she's denying it! That she made a gang sign!
posted by lagomorphius at 5:50 PM on November 8, 2014
posted by lagomorphius at 5:50 PM on November 8, 2014
Naturally this has shown up in the Chicago Tribune here framed nicely in this headline: "Minneapolis mayor denies making gang sign with community organizer." You see, she's denying it! That she made a gang sign!
The "community organizer" description was a nice touch as well
posted by TedW at 6:11 PM on November 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
The "community organizer" description was a nice touch as well
posted by TedW at 6:11 PM on November 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Statement from Mayor Hodges
posted by audi alteram partem at 5:10 PM on November 14, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by audi alteram partem at 5:10 PM on November 14, 2014 [6 favorites]
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