Wall Street Journal We quietly returned an early report, suggesting that the fatal shootings of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were linked to transgender people. Republican Party Yuta Gov. Spencer Cox contradicted the paper’s report at a press conference Friday morning.
Keep up with the latest LGBTQ+News and politics. Sign up for our supporters email newsletter.
“Transgender, anti-fascist ideology: Kirk shooting ammunition carved in sources” Journal’s Please read the headline on Thursday.
“Investigators found the inscription of transgender and anti-fascist ideological expressions inside the rifle, which authorities believe were used in the deadly shooting of Charlie Kirk, according to internal law enforcement officials and those familiar with the investigation.”
Related: Destruction: Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin in custody
Its framing was amplified by commentators who were tested, uninducible, speculative, and enthusiastic about portraying connections with transgender people. However, Department of Justice officials were urging caution, emphasizing that the details of the breaking news were preliminary and likely misread. New York Times Reported on Thursday.
Until late on Thursday, journal The heading has been updated “The initial news was Kirk’s shooting ammunition, carved with transgender, anti-fascist ideology. Some sources call attention.”
At a press conference Friday morning, Cox announced the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a former Utah State student who lived with his family in Washington County. Authorities say Robinson acted alone and his family helped him detain him along with friends. Cox said Robinson had changed clothes before and after the attack, arrived on campus in one outfit, changed clothes on the rooftop, then returned before leaving. When he was arrested, he was wearing the same clothes as seen in the surveillance images.
Wall Street Journal article.WSJ Screenshot
The inscription at the heart of the debate
Cox confirmed that investigators had retrieved the bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel along with the carved casing. Contrary to journal reports, the inscription reflected scattered memes and cultural references: “Hey fascist catch!” In the arrows, the lyrics of the anti-fascist song “Bellachao”, “If you read this, you’re gay lmao”, the phrase from the internet memes “Attention, owo what is this?”
Related: Charlie Kirk, a leading anti-LGBTQ+ activist, was filmed at an event in Utah
That last inscription was long spread in online spaces as an exaggerated parody of the popular flirtation in the furry role-play community and later absorbed into memetic culture. As knowyourmeme documentit’s a digital joke, not Political Doctrine.
Impact and false reports
Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was filmed Wednesday in one of the discussions of his signature “Prove Me Murne,” an event at Utah Valley University that attracted around 3,000 attendees. Officials say a single shot was fired from the rooftop and hit Kirk as he sparred with a student in a mass shooting involving transgender people.
early journal The breaking news was expanded by Maga influencer and comedian Stephen Crowder. He claimed he received details from alcohol, cigarettes, firearms and explosives. Crowder later said that the ATF had summoned his company. A senior law enforcement officer said New York Times The report may have been “misreading or misinterpreted.”
Related: No, this trans woman is not a Charlie Kirk Assassin
The misinformation had devastating effects. A trans woman in Seattle was falsely accused of being a shooter after the photos were distributed online. “These people really want to kill me because I thought I killed the idol, Charlie Kirk,” she said. Supporters.
LGBTQ+ Advocates demand accountability
“There’s a lot I don’t know about this crime, but certain facts are unshakable.” glaad The spokesman said Supporters Thursday. “Gun violence is an epidemic that affects all communities and people in both parties. LGBTQ people are at a much higher risk of being victims of violent crimes than they commit them. The media should scrutinise all leaked details and look for context before reporting, especially if there is a risk of targeting already marginalized communities.”
Above Blue skiingGillian Branstetter, spokesman American Civil Liberties Unionwas more direct. “Transgender people have been retracted and apologised from @WSJ. The lies have already turned to Canon to millions.
Related: Right-wing fire brand Charlie Kirk died after filming at a university in Utah
In the second statement, Glaad was even dull. “Postling inaccurate and incomplete information, especially about marginalized communities, is an irresponsible report. Right-wing extremists known to spread false and harmful rhetoric about LGBTQ people are not a reliable source,” a GLAAD spokesman said. Supporters on friday. “Media that report this inaccurate and honorific loss information should issue immediate withdrawals, corrections and apologies and review newsroom protocols immediately to improve reports on vulnerable communities.”
The spokesman said, “The media must stop repeating information from unknown sources that specifically target LGBTQ people, and pause to ask more questions before rushing to do anything to fill up the entire community.
Human Rights Campaign Secretary of State Brandon Wolf also expressed his anger over the false report. “Immediately after the murder of Charlie Kirk, people with news outlets and large platforms competed online to share unconfirmed reports that misconnected the LGBTQ+ community with shooters,” Wolf said. Supporters Text message.
He continued, “It was reckless and irresponsible to jump to those conclusions, leading to a wave of threats from right-wing influencers to the trans community, and a wave of fear for communities of already scary communities. We will emerge from these deeply divided and dangerous times and people with platforms.”
Cox called Kirk’s death a “political assassination” and warned that social media was “cancer in our society.” He praised the family for moving forward with Robinson’s family and urged Americans to resist escalation. “History will determine whether this is the turning point of our country or not,” he said. “If this is a turning point for us, each of us will have a choice right now.”
Supporters I contacted Wall Street Journal Editor-in-chief Emma Tucker and reporters Sadie Garman and James Fanelli commented. No one responded. However, after the story was released, the journal included a note from the editor who stated that the Utah governor “does not show that ammunition contains transgender references.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated and contains information about editor’s notes added to the journal’s stories.
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
