APN Editor Receives Death Threat over Editorial on Objectivity
(APN) ATLANTA — Atlanta Progressive News’s News Editor, Matthew Cardinale, received a death threat by way of email from an anonymous sender after publishing a controversial Editorial, “Notes on Objectivity and News.”
The article elaborated on APN’s Editorial Policy, specifically that there is no such thing as objectivity in news reporting or otherwise.
The writer, with the email address mr1955@comcast.net, was apparently very offended by the Editorial.
“If I shoot you in the head with a .45 caliber pistol, you — with or without a witness to ‘create’ reality — will be dead, and I (with or without a witness) will be the shooter,” the person wrote.
“That’s reality. There are objective facts in the world,” the email said.
The email was sent to APN’s News Editor on Thursday afternoon, February 18, 2010. The news agency immediately notified police by calling 911.
The 911 operator took down basic information and said a detective would call back within 24 to 48 hours. Officer Oliver called back later that evening, advising APN’s News Editor to bring in a copy of the email.
APN consulted with many senior activists and elected officials in the community for advice on how to respond.
Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), an avid APN reader who has also received death threats, advised the news agency to take the threat seriously and contact police, particularly because no one knows yet who the sender is and because “there are crazy people in the world.”
Earlier today, Atlanta Police Department Officers Stricklin and Wagaman of Zone 6 responded with concern and professionalism, obtaining a copy of the threatening email and notifying the Editor’s residential zone, Zone 5, of the incident.
One APD officer noted that the sender of the email had some detailed familiarity of firearms.
A police report is currently being prepared with the case number 10-051-1136. The report should be ready in 7-10 days, APD said.
APD also said an investigator from Zone 5 would be following up shortly.
It is unclear whether the person’s email can be traced, but they did use a Comcast email address which should make it easy for Comcast if they are willing to provide the information to APD.
APN also received an email from a reader in New Zealand who noted that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler also did not believe in objectivity.
Also, APN received an email from a member of the US military, Mike Williamson, which, while not threatening murderer, requests of APN Editor to “Please die.”
“And this is what a socialist c****sucker looks like,” Williamson wrote, including a link to a photo of APN’s News Editor.
“You can tell he’s incapable of a real job, which is why he supports douchism. Anyone else want to chip in and buy him a one way ticket to France?”
“FYI, Matty, I left the UK to get away from socialist c***suckers, and their national health care and other phaggotry. Your ‘vision’ is incompatible with America, human decency, or manliness. Please die,” Williamson concluded.
APN will not be deterred from its crucial mission by death threats nor by profane insults.
APN Contributor Bob Goodman, formerly of the Great Speckled Bird newspaper, argued that to be deterred would be to let the sender of the email win. “That’s what they want is for you to be scared,” he said.
Goodman recalled that the leftist Atlanta ‘zine of the 1960’s, 1970’s, and 1980’s once had its office firebombed, but that they did not miss a week of publication. Apparently, progressive journalism in Atlanta is a hazardous occupation.
(END/2010)
About the author:
Matthew Cardinale is the News Editor for The Atlanta Progressive News and is reachable at matthew@atlantaprogressivenews.com.
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