Encouraging Mob Actions Against Journalists

That's where we are in our country - people, including the highest elected official, are encouraging mob reactions against journalists. As others have pointed out, this will not end well. When people are enabled and encouraged to act like goons or to scream and yell at people who are performing jobs reporting on events or the news, we are on the brink of serious violence and intimidation. Many have fought and advocated for leadership in government to find ways to protect the media and journalists. Success in this area has been mixed but the efforts have always been intense.

Writing and reporting are really the essence of the First Amendment. Much of the debate in the founding years of our country were in the written and spoken word. Pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers and soapbox speeches on street corners were how the issues related to the early years and development of the Constitution took place. This should make all of us realize and think about why the First Amendment was the first amendment.

I have watched the rallies that Donald Trump has held across the country and in every one of them he points to the press, pointing his finger and waving his hand. He talks about how terrible these people are, what liars they are, how they are reporting things incorrectly and promoting 'fake news'. He shouts it out with anger and bile in his voice and his supporters yell and scream at the reporters who are held in a pen at the back of the event. People jeer, pump fists, give the finger, raise signs and shout obscenities. Donald Trump seems to enjoy it immensely. Mobs are great fun as long as they're not after you.

It has also struck me recently as I've listened to people in these crowds being interviewed by the media they seem to hate, that there are other things going on. Listening, I'm beginning to pick up that a number of these audience or mob members, are regulars. Yes, some of these folks travel from state to state, site to site to attend as many of these Trump rallies as they can. Perhaps someone should do a more comprehensive review of how many of these folks are just repeat groupies and followers.

As I said earlier, this will not end well. Journalists will continue to probe and Donald Trump will continue to call them out as enemies of the people. Someone, somewhere will take his words seriously and interpret that action needs to be taken. I hope it doesn't happen. I hope journalists and writers and newscasters face down intimidation but we should all realize how hard it is and how hard it is going to be if mobs continue to be incited.