Astonishingly irresponsible journalism: The Washington Post has a story by Monica Hesse about the cancellation of a building-prize ceremony because the prize was going to Caterpillar and the prize-givers feared protests– and the word Israel is not in the story. This shows that the Post fears giving any publicity to the boycott/divestment movement, fears the boycott/divestment movement, and is afraid to say what it’s about, lest readers are informed.
Even Rachel Corrie’s death is reported in passive terms: she was “killed by a bulldozer in Gaza.” Yes, who drove the bulldozer? Who occupies Gaza? Some of the report (thanks to Janet McMahon of Washington Report):
The Henry C. Turner Prize, a major innovation award annually bestowed by the National Building Museum, was scheduled to be presented to manufacturer Caterpillar on Wednesday evening, but the event was canceled because organizers feared that political protests would overshadow the ceremony.
“We were concerned that potential disruptions to the public ceremony would divert attention from the purpose of the prize, which is to recognize innovation in construction engineering,” said a news release distributed Wednesday afternoon.
The push was spearheaded by the Rachel Corrie Foundation, named after the American woman killed by a bulldozer in Gaza. Foundation co-founder Craig Corrie says that the petition was signed by 150 organizations.
