Entry #3 The art of lying by omission

    "Wrongfully convicted Florida man shot, killed by Georgia deputy," when having read this title, reported on by CBS Miami, I, like many others immediately thought of the recent incidents of police officers overstepping their power resulting in the deaths of innocent members of the community, most often black. What is notable about this video is despite it being about the shooting which occurred, over half the time was spent focusing on Leonard's, the suspects, innocence and time served under a false charge while at the same time giving minimal acknowledgement to the fact the situation became aggressive due to Leonard's actions, only briefly mentioning this. 

                                                 
    When showing a picture of Leonard what is notable is he is wearing a shirt with the word "Innocent" in bold letters and is proudly raising his hand, free from the shackles which were wrongfully placed on him. Whether intentional or not, these factors paint the picture of an innocent black man who was targeted not only once but twice by an unjust system which relentlessly harassed him to the end. 

    In an era where too many people do not do research and rely on media coverage which is becoming increasingly biased, videos such as this one have fueled the fire to recent protests and societal issues such as the racial division which is being pushed onto the public. It is becoming increasingly important for news sources to report only on the facts, however even in reports like the one from CBS Miami a narrative is being pushed, and when the story doesn't fit the narrative, facts are simply left out or glossed over, changing the way viewers interpret the event. 

    This is evident by the fact News coverage, such as what was seen in CBS Miami's report, given does not give an accurate insight into the events which actually occurred. Body cam Footage which shows the events from the moment Leonard speeds past the officer at a reported 100 miles per hour (Georgia Deputy Fatally Shoots Man) to the moment the officer is checked over for injuries clearly show this was not an innocent man who was being harassed yet again by a corrupt system. Instead what it shows is a man who was pulled over for speeding and refused the officers orders resulting in him being tased.

He then proceeds to attack the officer, intentionally knocking off his glasses and then covering his mouth and nose area with his hand. The officer had given several warnings and even when his face was being covered choose to go for a baton, despite his gun being in a easier position to grab. Only after his face is covered and he is unable to fight off the attacker does the officer shoot Leonard once in the chest, which kills him. 

    In an unbiased news reporting, the events of this occurrence would not warrant Leonard to be painted in a way where he appears as the victim of an unjust system which killed him in the end. 

                                                                       Works Cited

“Georgia Deputy Fatally Shoots Man Who Grabbed Him by The Neck During Traffic Stop.” Youtube, Police Academy, 18.10.2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GrcptVf8Yk