Read on Twitter
It's already happening, but everyone (white/POC allies especially) needs to be aware of the inevitable reaction to the events unfolding here in the NT. You may even be unconsciously participating in the perpetuation. Be mindful of the sources you're sharing from.
(huge thread)
(huge thread)
NewsCorp (NT News, Daily Telegraph, The Australian), Channel 9, Channel 7, Channel 10, are historically bad faith reporters of the truth in regards to Indigenous affairs. Here are some propaganda techniques to look for.
- Whitewashing: We have already started seeing stories about how the accused cop was a hero, son of prominent Australian community members, photos of him smiling with his medals.
- Demonizing: Related to whitewashing this will take the form of stories that try to demonize Indigenous men and especially the young nephew Kumanjayi Walker...
there will be a presumption of innocence on the actions of the officer, but not for Kumanjayi, they will try to dig up photos to make him look bad, they will dig up stories about his family,
anything to make him and us look bad. Look for stories that don't use the words "alleged" when referring to what the police say were Kumanjayi's actions. Or indeed when talking about the safety concerns of the nurses who left prior to the events.
-Minimizing: Again, we've already started seeing this with some media releases. Language includes false equivalencies like "we know the families are hurting, as are the police" no the police are not hurting.
Statements of sympathy, followed by counterpoints like "but, however" are also not actual statements of sympathy.
- Deflection: This is related to the first 2 but hasn't been used in full force yet, but its use is inevitable. This will be stories and non-sequiturs that will attempt to derail, distract from the events it will use techniques like victim-blaming, demonization, white-washing etc
Examples that have already been used include "his grandfather was also a police officer". However, this will probably expand to "how tough a job it is to be a police officer", "abuse of women and children in remote communities" etc
Stay woke everyone. It's going to get worse before it gets better.
(thanks for getting this far) consider donating if you can to cover lawyer expenses etc. My Aunty Lisa set up the GoFundMe here https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-yuendumu-inquiry-on-police-shooting
(thanks for getting this far) consider donating if you can to cover lawyer expenses etc. My Aunty Lisa set up the GoFundMe here https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-yuendumu-inquiry-on-police-shooting
