Milwaukee4Palestine: Sign the petition! Louis Fortis and the editors of the Shepherd Express: Shepherd Express Denies GENOCIDE – Demand Better Journalism Now

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Subject: Sign the petition! Louis Fortis and the editors of the Shepherd Express: Shepherd Express Denies GENOCIDE – Demand Better Journalism Now

Body:

Friend,

I signed a petition on Action Network telling Louis Fortis and the editors of the Shepherd Express to Shepherd Express Denies GENOCIDE – Demand Better Journalism Now.

The Shepherd Express—a local magazine that refers to itself as “Milwaukee’s alternative news source”—prides itself on “providing honest, accurate, and courageous journalism.” Unfortunately, the owner & editors of the Shepherd have failed to live up to their own values and now we are asking our neighbors to show up for Milwaukee by demanding accurate, informed reporting from our local magazine. The Shepherd Express has gone out of its way to remove the word “genocide” from its articles and direct quotes from Palestinian members of the Milwaukee community. This journalistic malpractice prioritizes a Zionist agenda over truth and the current reality of Palestinians – in Palestine, Milwaukee, and elsewhere. How is Shepherd Express failing to live up to its core values?

For several months, readers and members of the community have called out Shepherd Express via letters, emails, and comments on social media to demand accurate reporting by factually referring to Israel’s onslaught of Palestinians as what it is: a genocide. This failure to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes against Palestinians, the civilians of several surrounding countries, and activists attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, is part of a pattern of substandard journalistic practice when it comes to Palestine – a pattern shamefully exhibited in the Shepherd Express and in media broadly. In choosing to distort the reality of the severity and intentionality behind Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, the Shepherd Express is giving cover to the worst possible crime against humanity and instead prioritizing the hateful rhetoric and violent outcomes of a Zionist agenda.

Community demands to hold the Shepherd accountable to its own standards have gone ignored, community members have been silenced, and related articles continue to have the word genocide purposely excised and vital context—expected in any objective, meaningful journalistic reporting—omitted.

Here is a list of our demands: Call this ongoing reality what it is in your reporting: a genocide. Live up to the Shepherd Express’s own mission statement about reporting stories “accurately and honestly.” Meet with the local Palestinian community to address concerns about the racially-motivated omissions and ongoing issues regarding their coverage of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. Issue a public apology for publishing unfounded, inflammatory accusations about the Palestinian community and their supporters—accusations manufactured and spread by local Zionists who promote a pro-genocide agenda.

Can you join me and take action? Click here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/shepherd-express-denies-genocide-demand-better-journalism-now?source=email&

Thanks!

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