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27 Nov, 6 tweets, 3 min read
This is a breathless, sensationalist lie from a NYT reporter. NYPD has never come close to “solving” 90% of anything. And violent crime didn’t “spike.” All major crimes, save for homicides (still at historic lows), continued their 30+ year decline. Why are you doing this, Ali?
More on the story in the NYT in this important thread.
Look at the “spike” in violent crime Ali claims—contrary to all evidence & a simple Google search—exists.
Please read this, @AliWatkins. Offer a good faith critique of so many of the same, dangerous journalistic failures too often exhibited in your reporting. Offer you a roadmap out. Please take it. You’re doing immense, immense harm. thenation.com/article/societ…
How has @AliWatkins still not deleted the lie? It’s been two days and thousands, literally thousands, have pointed it out to them.
And it looks like, despite the NYT changing the problematic and false headline in their main story, an NYT "opinion"--really just a parrot of the central lies of the story--still has the lie of a headline up. "Murders doubled overnight." They didn't.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/nyr…

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Scott Hechinger Profile picture
21 Nov
As a public defender, I represented literally hundreds of Black men & women accused of doing this. Most literally couldn’t afford $2.75 subway fare. Difference between eating/not. Arrested, caged, forced to plea to the crime of “theft of services.” But when you’re white & proud:
This year, NYC hired *500 more subway cops.* There were already 4000 NYPD in subway. $245 million/yr. They mostly target Black people for jumping the turnstile & attack. Fail to prevent crime. Instead of investing in free/affordable public transportation. gothamist.com/news/500-more-…
This is what subway policing normally looks like. NYPD surround woman selling churros. Crying. Telling her she stops or get arrested. Trying to talk to them in Spanish. Rolling their eyes. Lead out in cuffs. Cart taken away. This is police violence.
Read 20 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
15 Nov
THREAD: I critique the NYT when they publish problematic reporting on crime & punishment. Allowing speculation on short-run stats. Sensationalizing. Failing to provide critical context. Today, I want to highlight what they did right in this story. More: nytimes.com/2021/11/15/us/…
Although the headline’s use of the word “surge” is sensational & can lead to gut-reaction misperceptions, the NYT’s subtitle clarifies the universal nature of the increase (“cities, towns, rural areas”) & stresses right away that “reasons are elusive.”
NYT is careful to couch more recent increase in homicides within important context: (1) homicides are still at historic lows & far lower than in 90s, (2) homicides make up a tiny fraction of all crime, (3) overall major crimes continued their decline, (4) homicides slowing again.
Read 9 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
15 Nov
Kyle Rittenhouse had his gun possession charge dismissed. In Illinois, a Black gun owner--licensed in another state-put his bag through metal detector at an Air & Water show. Prosecuted for possession. Jailed. Lost job. Faced housing instability. 2 systems.thenation.com/article/politi…
Kyle Rittenhouse had his gun possession charge dismissed. In Chicago, a father of 4 & professional driver, who purchased a firearm after being caught in the crossfire of a shooting was arrested & is now charged w/ a felony for not having the right license.thenation.com/article/politi…
Kyle Rittenhouse had his gun possession charge dismissed. In Illinois, 75% of firearm possession convictions occur in Cook County, in a few Chicago neighborhoods. "100s of young Black men arrested & facing years in prison for simple possession of a gun."thenation.com/article/politi…
Read 7 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
15 Nov
A cop slapped a handcuffed man dying of a drug overdose. Called him a “bitch.” Shoved a baton in his mouth. That cop got suspended 6 days. But the cop who revealed the cruelty was expelled from the cop union. Now faces 20 years prison for whistleblowing. usatoday.com/story/news/inv…
Sgt. Javier Esqueda shared w/ reporter footage showing how colleagues slapped a Black man in medical distress, restricted his airway, & shoved a baton in his mouth hours before his death. *Esqueda* now faces up to 20 years prison for releasing footage. usatoday.com/story/news/inv…
Members of the Joliet Illinois Police Union voted 35-1 to expel Javier Esqueda for exposing footage of police abuse. “In a letter informing him of the vote, union leaders described his conduct as “reprehensible.” Not the cops though who shoved a baton down a dying man’s throat.
Read 23 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
13 Nov
The judge, smiling, describes how he screenshots his funny text message conversations w/ friends then emails them to himself. But when he tries to zoom in: “it’s all a blur.” Which is why he won’t allow prosecutors to zoom in on CCTV footage of the incident for the jury to see.
This judge did this knowing the entire country was watching. Imagine what goes on every day in empty courtrooms.
Seeing a lot of people who *know* — mostly public defenders — how horrifying the state of the judiciary is. It’s not just cruelty. It’s arrogance, stupidity, laziness, & a dangerous combination of ignorance of & disdain for the law. Cases are determined on feelings. Not reason.
Read 18 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
12 Nov
NEWS: Chief Defender of Chicago calls on Supreme Court to end NY's racist gun laws: "While I support policies to stem flow of guns, prevent violence & heal harm, Black men aren't protected by criminalization. We're arrested, prosecuted, & imprisoned." More:thenation.com/article/politi…
First hand: "Ive been close to gun violence my entire life. Growing up on South Side of Chicago, I’ve seen classmates carry firearms to keep themselves & families safe. I later represented those same individuals in court—for possession—when I started work as a public defender."
"The people I knew growing up, & now the people I fight for in court, are also victims of gun violence themselves. I see those same people get arrested, prosecuted, & caged for the simple act of possessing a firearm—something protected & even exalted elsewhere in our country."
Read 17 tweets

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