A-Infos (en) US, Atlanta: Protesters Target CNN for Biased Coverage (April 21st)

["jason" <jza@magicnet.net>]

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Some good photos are included in the article on IndyMedia. 

http://www.indymedia.org/front.php?article_id=35858&group=webcast

Boisterous Horde Descends on CNN Center 
Warren Goodwin, IMC/Atlanta 
4/21/01 

This afternoon about 150 protesters from several southeast states descended
upon the global headquarters of the Cable News Network (CNN), located in
downtown Atlanta. The action at the CNN Center was part of a series of
confrontations at corporate headquarters during a march in solidarity with
the FTAA demonstrations in Quebec City. 

The protestors arrived at the main entrance to the Center carrying signs
and beating on colorful drums, and about 15 people entered. Inside, they
began dancing and yelling "CNN Tells Lies!" According to participants, most
of those who entered were pushed back out, unscathed, by security guards,
but one protestor was lifted by his belt and bodily thrown out, slamming
into the doorjam in the process. 

Shortly after arrivial, a banner reading "CNN: Half the Story, All the
Time" was hung from accross the street, a reference to CNN's
sensationalistic coverage of protests and its failure to include protester
perspectives. 

"They have shitty coverage, and it's always told fom the side of the
police," said one demonstrator. Another protestor had this to say: "They
tell us part of the story; the part that they and their sponsors want us to
hear, sponsors being their advertisers and corporate partners like AOL,
Time, and Warner" concluding, "Nothing contrary to those corporate
sponsors' interests is broadcast." 

Once they were outside, they continued to chant, shout and beat on the
remarkably resonant CNN logo. According one participants, one security
guard began to remove his baton but was deterred by a protester who put his
hand on it and said something to the effect that "no, we're not about that,
we're not about violence..." 

After creating quite a spectacle for the bewildered crowds standing in line
for the "CNN Tour" and other people within the center (which is open to
quieter members of the public) the protesters moved on to other corporate
targets elsewhere in downtown, but not before tagging the oversized CNN
logo with the circle-A anarchy symbol. (see photos) 

The protester who was thrown out by his belt has since vomited blood and
will be seeking medical attention.

atlanta.indymedia.org

jason
jza@magicnet.net
http://www.magicnet.net/~jza/
http://www.stonesoupcollective.org/


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