Press Coverage of Events

Press Coverage of the Peace Movement Nationally under represents the events and attendance at events.

See STORIES YOU WON'T READ in SUN-NEWS!

Question

SUN-NEWS - Las Cruces QUESTION: Is this the most biased coverage of the Peace Movement in the Nation?

They are biased in their coverage They are unbiased in their coverage

Your vote is shown above. You can change your vote until the poll is concluded.

Responses

Choices Votes % 1 reply They are biased in their coverage 1 100.00% They are unbiased in their coverage 0 0.00%

Nationally:

Do you know how many USA service men and women died in Gulf War I? = Answer.

• Feb 28 in roundup

  Thanks for story on uranium-depleted weapons

By Jacob Kiss / Undeclared, Arts and Sciences Thank you for the article about the use of uranium in our previous skirmishes in the Middle East (the Round Up, Feb. 24). Finally, a well-written and informative piece appears in the Round Up. I am a first semester student at New Mexico State University, and enjoy the Round Up as well as my other experiences here at the university. I just wanted to let Levi Hill know that the piece was great, and the information seemed genuine. Although I was unable to attend this meeting, I would like to say thank you for providing what the news is supposed to provide -- keeping its public informed when we miss something of relevance. I can't wait until next issue; keep it coming (source)

• Feb 23 2003 - Pacifica Panel Talk show on DU - See Boje's (2003) notes for  Feb 23 Pacifica Radio Panel on the ban of DU in the battlefield. 

• Boje Deconstructs Bu$h 2003 State of the Union Theatre

• Good article on Press coverage -- "Alternative Voices on Campus" by Emma Ruby-Sachs & Timothy Waligore Jan 30 2003 http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030217&s=waligore 

• Feb 7 -  Yesterday a Democrat and a Republican introduced a bill to call for a repeal of Bush's Blank Check for War.  All the news media was invited.  So, far, only a small paper in California has covered it.  Not even CSPAN covered it.  Once again, the media is trying to ignore the opposition to war.  How can we get the media to cover this so Americans will know that our leaders are beginning to hear our message?? How can we get the word out to the public and find ways to support this action? DeFAZIO, PAUL INTRODUCE BILL TO REPEAL BUSH’S BLANK CHECK FOR WAR http://www.house.gov/defazio/020503DERelease.shtml

• "CNN wants war because war is good for the media business... CNN's viewership
  increased by 500% after 9/11" (William Rivers Pitt. author of the bestseller book 'War on Iraq.'

• NBC News -- is owned by major weapons contractor, General Electric, which runs advertisements extolling the virtues of its global reach (source).

• President Bush will assert in State of the Union address on Jan 28 that Iraq poses a "serious threat" to the United States, but will stop short of declaring or justifying war. Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle challenged the White House to show "proof to the world" that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction (Yahoo News).

• For Alternative News Coverage of Peace and War see Peace Aware Links for Peace national list. 

Albuquerque Journal 

Feb 23, 2003 - Story about Mary Burton Riseley - See Riseley Page

Locally: The Round Up continues to provide more balanced coverage of the Peace Movement than either the Sun-News of the Bulletin.

BULLETIN - E-mail: bulletin@zianet.com Phone: (505)524-8061 Fax: (505)526-4621

ROUND UP http://www.roundupnews.com/  SEARCH - Phone (505) 646-NEWS Fax (505) 646-7905 e-mail: roundup@nmsu.edu

We would like to thank the Round-Up for giving front page coverage to the Peace Movement in their Oct 24 2002, and in 2003 the Jan 27th, Feb 19th and Feb 24th editions. The Sun-News has not covered these events (except one Sun-News photo from our Feb 15th buried inside the paper with no article).

Courtesy photos by Takashi Morizumi (See More Morizumi Photos)

Front Page Round Up Photos CAPTION "(Above) Bedouins remove parts of tanks destroyed by depleted uranium penetrators to sell in town. They are affected by the radiation, and the parts they carry into town spread the contamination further.  

(Below) Depleted uranium shells scattered about the desert. The U.S. forces used over 300 tons of depleted uranium during the Gulf War.

Round UP - Mon Feb 24 2003 - Speaker lectures on the hazards of U.S. uranium by Levi Hill (News Reporter). Page 1 (& A-5).

Feb 15th Peace in the Park and March for Peace - Las Cruces

Photo -  New World Drummers Group - Las Cruces at Feb 15 Peace in the Park event; 200 attended the March.

• Round Up Feb 19 - Hundreds rally in park by Marissa Dominguez (actually it was 200).

• Round Up Feb 19 - Students debate Iraq war by Levi Hill

• Round Up Feb  18 - Letter to Editor  Don't let corporations run our country - By Chris Yarnes / Graduate Student, Biology

• Round Up Jan 27 2003 Students visit D.C. to protest violence by Darryl Newman. "Seventy-two hours in a car. A diet of soggy oatmeal for several days. Four New Mexico State University students in a sea of half a million people on a frigid January day. Casey Stevens, Jose Oliveira, Crystal Slover and Solisa Zamora recounted their personal experiences to the Round Up after attending a nation-wide peace protest in Washington, D.C."

• Peace rally a success
  by: Darryl Newman/and Cassie Nicklen	10/31/2002
  Peace vigil at Pioneer park
  by: Darryl Newman	10/10/2002
  Protesters picket congressman's office
  by: Prasanth Kanakadandi	1/30/2003
  NMSU profs discuss Iraq
  by: Penny Roethle	9/30/2002

• Round Up 30 Sept NMSU Professors Discuss Iraq (good coverage provided)

• Bulletin - 24 Oct -  "Teach-IN Speak-OUT against war published in The Bulletin October 24, 2002: page 3).  

• Round Up 10 Oct coverage of Peace Vigil (nice work here)

•  

• Round Up 28 Oct Announcement of at NMSU campus (OK)

• Round Up 28 Oct On Line Announcement (better)

• Round Up Peace rally a success  By Darryl Newman/and Cassie Nicklen - Published On Line Nov 3 and in paper Oct 31, 2002

• Sun-News - 28 Oct coverage of Teach-In Speak-Out (reported on event)- can not locate it in Sun-news archives. (Reporter put count at 80, when head count was closer to 600 for the 13 hour event).

• Round UP - Peace Rally a Success - (Good article, not put on web yet - coverage is balanced between those in favor and those opposed to war in Iraq).

(Search) -   WRITE LETTER TO SUN NEWS EDITOR and cc  jrosenthal@lcsun-news.com and  mbush@lcsun-news.com 

See STORIES YOU WON'T READ in SUN-NEWS!

• War and Peace - Wed Mar 5, 2003 Sun-News Editorial - This is one of the better pieces of coverage of the Peace Movement by the Sun-News. We appreciate it. "...David M. Boje, spokesman for the group, presented a petition with 105 signatures calling for the city to oppose both a U.S.-led war with Iraq as well as the Patriot Act of 2001, a bill that gives law enforcement greater authority in dealing with potential terrorist threats. The petition attempts to bring both issues home, citing the economic impact that the war would have on the Las Cruces economy, as well as the erosion of civil liberties in Las Cruces stemming from passage of the Patriot Act." See War and Peace for rest of editorial

• City Council declines discussion on war - This is the best coverage we have had from the Sun-News. It is a story in 'Sections: Today's Headlines'  by Christopher Schurtz, Sun-News Reporter. Please thank him and the Sun-News for this. "Despite the show of support at Monday's meeting by about a half-dozen residents opposed to war in Iraq, the Las Cruces City Council decided not to put on its agenda a resolution proposed by PeaceAware, a local group against the looming war." -- 3/5/2003 - See Complete Story with a our photos. 

• There's Got to be a Better Way - Gordon's March 2003 Column in Sun-News - second guest column for the Sun-News:

• Sun News Sunday Feb 16 2003 - Report on Peace in the Park Event

Sun News Photo Page A 4 Feb 16 2003 of Feb 15th Las Cruces - Peace In Park Event. The Caption reads "On Saturday, people gathered at Young Park, in Las Cruces, to demonstrate against war, like thousands across the country." Click here for Medium Size photo  Click here for Large Size photo Note: The Sun-News did not carry a story of the Las Cruces event; they put the news coverage of 11 million people (they undercount and say thousands in photo caption) around the world asking for peace. The peace movement coverage is relegated to pages 3 and 4. Nothing on the front page about one the most major and important events? The photo next to the one above on Page A4, shows police tear gassing, tackling, then arresting peace marchers in Colorado Springs. The Sun News depicts Peace People as "demonstrators," as "people in "tie-dyes" and "dreadlocks." Sun News was sent a Press Release (Click Here) well before the Las Cruces event. The Sun News photographer showed up on his own, after hearing a report on his scanner. The Sun New is using a typical tactic of the mainstream conservative corporate media.  Note: Look at the Photo carefully - This appears to be a mannequin being hand-cuffed, not a real person.  First, they do not cover anything, then they juxtapose images of peace people next to law breakers, show them being harassed by police, then paint the entire peace movement as a bunch of hippies. Yet, those 200 who were there know that our March and Park event was peaceful, non-violent, even prayerful. We are young and old, of all races, and all hair styles.

Send the Sun News a Letter to the Editor Feedback for: Las Cruces Sun~News -TOPIC: 200 March on Lohman Ave and Attend Peace in the Park event. Dear Editor, Thank you for including our photo on p. 4A of Sun-News Feb 16. As we marched along Lohman Ave. we came to intersections and twice had to cross Lohman Ave. It takes about 10 minutes for a group this size to cross the streets. Motorists in waiting, honked, shouted 'No War,' and gave us the two finger peace sign. Some gave us the one finger war sign. Either way, the march lasted an hour and we performed our street theatre for thousands of motorists (See Video at www.PeaceAware.com ) There were people as young as 5 and as old as seventy-five marching in our peace parade. When the March for Peace ended at Young Park, we held speak-out, poetry reading, drumming, and theatre until 5PM. People signed lots of Put Democracy Now on KRWG-FM radio, Impeach Bush, and joined our growing discussion list. We are small, but growing. Photos will be up on the web in the next few days at www.PeaceAware.com Reading the Sun-News on Feb 16 you would think that people who speak for Peace are about to be tear-gassed or that we are the terrorists. Know this, we are a peaceful and non-violent bunch. We are people of all ages, races, and faiths.  The Peace in the Park event began with prayers from Rev Ruth and Larry Moorer, Rev. Grady McCollough, and Rev. Sam Ritchey. They encouraged people to attend the Interfaith Symposium at NMSU on March 15th (Flyer). Invited Speakers included Processor Emeritus Leonard Gambrell who spoke on the "Politics of Fear: United We Stand", Professor David Boje spoke on "From FearAware to PeaceAware" (PeaceAware.com or Click for Talk). Mr. Kevin Bixby of Southwest Environmental Center spoke on "War and the Environment." The New World Drummers played several sets. Poet Tom Wark shared two Peace Poems (see Poems at PeaceAware.com). Scores of people spoke at open microphone time - including Ray Wilson of the Lincoln County Not in Our Name Committee, Mr. Lightning Heart who encouraged people to put their stories and photos on Indy Media (Click Here), Ryan Jameson invited everyone to the Peace Concert 22 Feb at Court Youth Center (starts 7PM $3 cover), Carol Verplogh read part of Senator Byrd's speech (see PeaceAware Discussion Board item for Byrd Speech), Kathy Kerl spoke on the Power of the Prayer and delivered a powerful prayer, Darlene Cheatham of NMSU Student International Law & Human Rights group spoke about the concerns of American Indians and the Tyranny of the US, Judy Hamon spoke about peace and the New World Drummers, Teba Mohammed shared her stories of being in Iraq in 1991 when her home was bombed, Zechariah Rive spoke on 'True Peace: What it really is,' and the event ending with people joining hands in a circle and singing America the Beautiful (led by Kara Bixby and Alice Johnson-Hales). The event was organized by PeaceAware, Peace Vigil Committee, Las Cruces Voices for Peace, and Campus Voices for Peace. If you want more information contact www.PeaceAware.com  David Boje Vietnam Veteran and PeaceAware.com organizer

• Sun News Watch - FEb 25th 2003

  To: peace@nmsu.edu Subject: Sun-News Watch Cc: jrosenthal@lcsun-news.com, mbush@lcsun-news.com

  
  

  In today's Sun-News (Feb. 25), page 3A, the Sun-News printed poll results
  which state that a solid majority of Americans (with the exception of
  blacks)  are in favor of war.  This poll was conducted by the Pew Research
  Center.  Nowhere in this Associated Press article about the poll was any
  mention made of conditions, such as, "We support war IF the U.N. supports
  war." 
  
  
  The Sun-News article about the Pew poll seems wildly out of line with other
  poll results which show that Americans are leery of war.
  
  
  So I went to the Pew Research Center's website
  http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=173
  
  
  and found out that sure enough, the original poll had conditions attached.
  Quoting from the website:
  
  
  "A solid 66% majority of Americans favor the use of military force against
  Iraq, as long as the U.S. has sufficient backing for military action from major allies. But there
  is a growing belief that the U.S. does not yet have enough international support to conduct the war following the
  Feb. 14 report by U.N. weapons inspectors Hans Blix and  Mohamed ElBaradei and the mixed reception it received from members of the U.N. Security Council ­ as well as weekend antiwar protests around the world."
  
  
  The Pew Research Center also asked if the U.S. has enough international
  support for war.  34% said yes, 58% said no.  This sounds to me like most
  Americans are saying, HOLD OFF.
  
  
  Yet the Sun-News article simply says that 73% of whites and 67% of
  Hispanics are "In favor of war" without going on to say that 58% of
  Americans don't think the U.S. has enough international support to actually
  go forward with an attack.
  
  
  Potential war with Iraq is a very complex situation, one with enormous
  consequences.  The Las Cruces public deserves better than slanted
  information which amounts to pro-war propaganda.  An article elaborating on
  the Pew poll results -- specifically mentioning that Americans, by a 58-34
  margin, don't feel that the U.S. has enough international support to go to
  war -- seems in order.
  
  
  Gordon Solberg

  Here is Sun-News publisher Michael Bush's response:

  
  
  

  >>I know what you are saying.  That is a problem with nuances in polls.

  >>Other polls we have quoted shows different results to different

  >>scenarios and situations.  But this article and chart is showing the

  >>differences and support among different ethnic groups and I think it

  >>does that pretty well, don't you?  Thanks.

  
  
  

  This is my response to him:

  
  

  Yes, that's an interesting statistic about racial preference for war.  But

  the graph headline says, "In favor of war..."  and below that it says "In

  favor of military action, by race/ethnicity."  By not printing any

  qualifying material, your article clearly implies that most Americans

  support war, period.  But the actuality is, and the Pew poll itself

  indicates, that Americans are very much conflicted about going to war.  I

  think in the interest of balance, you should have printed that by a 58-34%

  margin, Americans don't feel that the U.S. has enough international support

  to go to war.  I hope that you will print this information in tomorrow's

  edition.  How about in Sound Off?  Thanks..  

   

  >
  >We printed what Associated Press wrote.  You need to get them to issue a
  >clarification.  I think many polls and articles published have indicated
  >the changing numbers.  By all means, call Sound Off!  Thanks for writing
  >and discussing these issues.
  >
  
  
  So I emailed in a letter to the editor:
  
  
  Box 23
  Radium Springs, NM 88054
  Feb. 27, 2003
  526-1853
  
  
  Dear Editor,
  
  You printed poll results in your Feb. 25 issue which state that a solid majority of Americans (with the exception of blacks) are in favor of war.  This poll was conducted by the Pew Research Center.  Nowhere in this Associated Press article poll was any mention made of conditions Americans might attach to their support of war, such as, “We support war IF the U.N. supports war.” 
  
  By not printing any qualifying material, your article clearly implied that most Americans support war, period.  But the actuality is, and the Pew poll itself indicates, that Americans are very much conflicted about going to war.
  
  As published in their website, http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=173, the Pew Research Center also asked if the U.S. has enough international support for war.  34% said yes, 58% said no.  This sounds to me like most Americans are saying, by a significant margin, HOLD OFF.
  
  Potential war with Iraq is a very complex situation, one with enormous consequences. The Associated Press article which the Sun-News published should have explicitly pointed out that Americans, by a 58-34 margin, don’t feel that the U.S. has enough international support to go to war. The Las Cruces public deserves better than partial information which amounts to pro-war propaganda. 
  
  
  Sincerely yours,
  
  
  
  
  Gordon Solberg
  
  

• Sun News Saturday, February 01, 2003 - War with Iraq - 

  Evil yes. But the rule of law must exist, Only when the UN give sanction to an invasion of Iraq could I and the majority in Britain support it. Our real enemy is bin Laden and El Qaeda. MALCOLM NEEVES
  

• Sun News Tuesday, January 28, 2003 - The US and the Ring of Power

Stories have ingrained in us from a very young age what constitutes evil. Darth Vader, Lord Voldemort, Sauron, and countless other villains all want more of one thing: power. Voldemort and Sauron seem to be completely evil wanting power simply for power's sake. However, the second Star Wars movie gave insight into young Anakin Skywalker before he became dependent on machines. Anakin says government would be more effective if one person made the decisions in the best interest for all. Senator Amidala rightly points out that one person cannot make those choices. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

...The point of this column is to encourage looking at multiple viewpoints. We're in the middle of a "war on terror" because we helped spur the anger and provide the weapons, not because people suddenly decided to fight for "evil". Let's give a Yea! for seeing shades in life, and Booo! simplifying life to black and white.

• Sun News Jan 22 2003 - Pearce receives petition By Gabriela C. Guzman, Page A5

• Sun News  Saturday, January 04, 2003 - 12:08:39 AM MST

Peace vigils

The Las Cruces Peace Vigil Committee would like to invite Las Crucens to join us at our weekly peace vigils every Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. in front of the Federal Building, corner of Church and Griggs. People wanting information about local peace activities are invited to check our Web site: www.peaceaware.com
Standing on the comer week after week holding my "Just Say No" sign, I have noticed an interesting phenomenon: not only do a LOT of passing motorists honk in support, but the fervor of their honking is such that sometimes it is difficult to hold a conversation because of all the honking. This is despite scanty coverage of peace activities nationwide in the mainstream press. There is definitely a grassroots phenomenon happening in Las Cruces and nationwide.
Anybody who can figure out how to translate honking into voting would be able to turn this country around. GORDON SOLBERG Radium Springs

• Sun News -  Jan 1 Prof Boje deconstructs Sun News - Editorial

• Sun News - Oct 30th the Peace Vigil did a March from the Federal Building to the news office of Sun-News at 4:30 PM. Bush, the owner of the paper, came out for a photo with the group in front of the "Voices for Peace" banner and some 20 Halloween costumed peace people doing songs. The photo taken by Sun-News did not go to press.

• Sun News Page 4 A Editorial Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003 Looking for Unity in 2003; Read Peace Responsorial by Boje.

NEXT - See STORIES YOU WON'T READ in SUN-NEWS!

www.PeaceAware.com