http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/regional/54167
Demonstrators gather at WLOS to protest 'Nightline' decision
ASHEVILLE - A somber crowd of nearly 100 gathered on the lawn of WLOS-TV's
property in Biltmore Park late Friday night to protest the station's parent
company's decision to black out a "Nightline'' broadcast in which the names
of more than 700 war dead were read.
"If they were my children, I'd want you to know their names,'' read a sign
carried by one older woman, signaling the anger generated by Sinclair
Broadcast Group's decision to pre-empt the Nightline broadcast in Asheville
and seven of its other markets.
Sinclair officials said Ted Koppel's report, in which the names of military
personnel were read as their pictures appeared on the screen, amounted to
anti-war propaganda.
Sinclair aired a special program in place of "Nightline." The program
discussed the merits of the war and Sinclair's decision to pre-empt
"Nightline."
"The nerve of Sinclair to say a program that's honoring our dead is
political and negative - it's beyond me,'' said Jackie Simms, who carried a
small sign that said, "Censorship is political.''
Illuminated by the glow of candles flickering in a light breeze, the
protesters spoke quietly among themselves before organizers began reading
the names of the 700 men and women who have died during the war in Iraq.
"If we can't hear the names on television, we'll hear them here,'' said
Vietnam veteran Michael Cartwright, who learned about the hastily arranged
vigil about 9 p.m. Friday and immediately drove to Asheville to take part in
the gathering.
"I'm here to honor these people who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and
it's a travesty of justice that the ABC affiliates weren't allowed to read
these names,'' said Cartwright, who is the county librarian in Jackson
County. "I'm here to, in a small way, try to rectify a wrong.''
Josh Dubin, a freshman at Roberson High, said he came to the vigil to send
the message that censorship is wrong.
"It's important that our media gives all different points of view on the
war,'' he said. "When you read all the names, it's sad, and it will hurt
support of the war. And not allowing that is definitely censorship.''
Les Vann, general manager of WLOS-TV, stood on the sidelines of the
gathering as the names were quietly read.
"I respect their opinion and their right to express it,'' Vann said. "As
long as they're not blocking doorways and acting responsibly, I have no
problem at all with it.''
--
Yang
a.a. #28
AthD (h.c.) conferred by the regents of the LCL
a.a. pastor #-273.15, the most frigid church of Celcius nee Kelvin
EAC Econometric Forecast and Socerey Division
Proudly plonked by Lani Girl and Crazyalec
The Bush 'balanced' budget: 1.2 trillion and worsening
The Bush 'economic' policy: -3 million jobs and counting
The Bush Iraq lie: -738 GIs, one friend's co-worker's son and mounting
Having Bush ***** up my country: Worthless
--
Yang
a.a. #28
AthD (h.c.) conferred by the regents of the LCL
a.a. pastor #-273.15, the most frigid church of Celcius nee Kelvin
EAC Econometric Forecast and Socerey Division
Proudly plonked by Lani Girl and Crazyalec
The Bush 'balanced' budget: 1.2 trillion and worsening
The Bush 'economic' policy: -3 million jobs and counting
The Bush Iraq lie: -738 GIs, one friend's co-worker's son and mounting
Having Bush ***** up my country: Worthless
.
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