Journalists are making an incredibly powerful statement with these #NotTheEnemy posts
It’s been a harrowing few months. While there have been glimmers of hope — The Women’s March, for example, or the swift response against the Muslim Ban — the news has been pretty grim.
Yesterday, Donald Trump called the news media “the enemy of the American people.” This pretty shocking claim not only attacked a vital pillar of democracy, it dismissed the hard work and sacrifices of an entire profession.
But journalists are fighting back in their own way. Many have turned to Twitter to share their side of the story using the hashtag #NotTheEnemy. And what first became a way of fighting back became a memorial for those lost defending freedom and freedom of speech. We hope the administration sees some of these.
Twitter wants people to know: journalists are citizens, too.
A journalist is a citizen. Who informs other citizens, as free citizens need. Some are killed doing it. I'm grateful to many who inform me.
— Steve Inskeep (@NPRinskeep) February 17, 2017
Some important facts:
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/832928698437361664
Would you call these people “enemies”?
This is the @Newseum's Journalists Memorial, listing the 2,291 individuals who have died around the world reporting the news #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/FazzRTTQyL
— Phil Williams (@NC5PhilWilliams) February 18, 2017
James Foley, Hero, #NotTheEnemy.
James Foley, freelance journalist. Detained 44 days, Libya, 2011. Beheaded by ISIS, Syria, 2014. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/KbfYhbq6Xq
— 𝕯𝖗. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐢𝐫 🌻 😷💉🎹🐈🌸⚾🎬 (@theresasmets) February 18, 2017
Marie Colvin, another Hero.
This is Marie Colvin. She died covering the siege of Homs in Syria and was a lifelong war reporter. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/8bwk2tX5KG
— Alex Berg (@itsalexberg) February 18, 2017
These men and women are #NotTheEnemy.
This is Chauncey Bailey, an Oakland journalist, murdered in 2007 as a result of his reporting on corruption in his community #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/BEDwAXySqe
— Phil Williams (@NC5PhilWilliams) February 18, 2017
This is Woodward and Bernstein. Nixon called them the enemy. They proved that no president is above the law. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/ekxoiBZis1
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) February 18, 2017
This is Michael Kelly, @realDonaldTrump. He was the 1st journalist killed covering the Iraq war in 2003. He is #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/uVAH3awfJg
— 🗽 Liz Gumbinner (@Mom101) February 17, 2017
This is David Bloom @realDonaldTrump. You might have known him. He died in Iraq in 2003 doing his job. He is #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/pMWo5xOrwM
— 🗽 Liz Gumbinner (@Mom101) February 17, 2017
Alison Parker and Adam Ward were @CBSNews journalists in #Virginia. They were murdered mid-broadcast in 2015. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/g7mxPxYkPY
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) February 18, 2017
This is Daniel Pearl, @realDonaldTrump, a journalist kidnapped + killed by terrorists, 2002. They made a movie about him.He is #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/t7ueGaWL1S
— 🗽 Liz Gumbinner (@Mom101) February 17, 2017
This is Tim Hetherington @realDonaldTrump he was killed in Libya. #NotTheEnemy pic.twitter.com/ph3VY7TM2q
— Elizabeth Wachsberg (@EWachsberg) February 18, 2017
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We agree.
Very moving how the #NotTheEnemy hashtag has become a tribute to the brave journalists who gave their lives to report the truth.
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) February 18, 2017
Meet the “Mother of Investigative Journalism”
Nellie Bly, the mother of investigative journalism. Her undercover work helped improve mental institutions. #NotTheEnemy #ShePersisted pic.twitter.com/t8MiFZjTV5
— Last Dybukk On The Left (@rideatdawn) February 18, 2017
Not “Fake News”
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This picture is worth many thousands of words.
Who's the enemy of the people again? pic.twitter.com/tHLk7mxpir
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) February 18, 2017
Another powerful image and a history lesson.
"He who tries to ignore the boycott will be seen as an enemy of the German people." pic.twitter.com/Uy7zgk55bv
— Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) February 17, 2017
In Nazi Germany it wasn't just Jews who were declared enemies of the people, but those who supported and defended them, too. #NotTheEnemy https://t.co/GjIcTatQDM
— Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) February 18, 2017
We are deeply moved by the #NotTheEnemy Twitter response. These journalists are heroes, not enemies. It’s about time someone stood up for what was right. Yes, there are people out there who call themselves “journalists” and then spread lies and misinformation. But blatantly labeling an entire group of people as “enemies” is misinformed, dismissive, and harmful. We are relieved to see people pushing back against this label.
