Thread by @equalityAlec

THREAD. The @AssociatedPress has published another irresponsible, dangerous article contributing to a manufactured panic about "retail theft." It's basically an corporate and police union press release. A few things about it are astounding: sfgate.com/news/article/D…

First, I cannot say this strongly enough: the thesis of the piece is that harsher prison terms are needed. **This is the equivalent of climate science denial or peddling tobacco industry propaganda about cigarettes being healthy.**

https://twitter.com/equalityAlec/status/1453440568546168834

Second, notice how article could have told readers the scientific consensus: more imprisonment has zero effect on crime, and actually make crime worse. The article simply did not tell readers about this. Take a look at the largest meta study ever:

https://twitter.com/ScottHech/status/1447598365252874240

Third, the story is told from the point of view of big business and DAs. Who benefits from this? Why is this news? Corporate wage theft (like these retailers) dwarfs all property crime combined--about $50 billion per year, mostly from the poorest people.

https://twitter.com/equalityAlec/status/1464270521323954182

Fourth, the AP continues the weeks long push by cops and corporate marketing departments to create a a public hysteria over retail theft. Who benefits from this? Why all the articles? What immense, existential harms are ignored in favor of these stories?

https://twitter.com/equalityAlec/status/1466840113481019392

Fifth, look at the "expert" sources the reporters choose to rely on in this story. It's unbelievable, even for a news outlet that skews toward corporate and police sources. Here are the expert sources the AP cites, supposedly to help people understand the issue, in rough order:

1) Right-wing DA association president
2) "Authorities"
3) California Retailers Association President and CEO
4) "National retail groups"
5) Director of business lobby group
6) Sheriff
7) AG
8) DA
9) Centrist non-profit
10) Atty for prosecutor lobby
11) More same business lobby

Finally, aside from the political biases in this article and its anti-science right-wing talking points that promote human caging and family separation for no public benefit, there are deep lessons here about who chooses what is "news."

https://twitter.com/equalityAlec/status/1464270507310727171