The survivors of the Capital Gazette massacre just sent Trump a warning he can’t ignore

Just last week, the newsroom of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, was attacked by a deranged gunman who shot five people dead and injured many more before being taken into custody.

Refusing to be scared into silence, the brave journalists and their staff went right back to work, publishing a newspaper the very next day with stunning coverage of the attack on their own newsroom. 

While it appears that this was a targeted attack by a deranged individual with a history of obsession with the local newspaper, the editors and reporters refused to discount the role that the President’s constant demonization of the media likely played in pushing the man over the edge – and they made it clear where the blame for that lies.

On Sunday, the Capital Gazette released a powerful letter thanking everyone who had supported them in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy and swore to never forget the lives that had been lost on that terrible day.

Unfortunately, there was a darker aspect of the aftermath that had to be addressed. The letter went on to trash the Trump supporters and right-wing lunatics who barraged the newspaper with even more horrifying threats, insults, and even messages cheering on the killings.

“Here’s what else we won’t forget: Death threats and emails from people we don’t know celebrating our loss, or the people who called for one of our reporters to get fired because she got angry and cursed on national television after witnessing her friends getting shot.”

Such a statement, of course, couldn’t simply ignore the man responsible for the hostile atmosphere towards journalists; the man who accuses the media of lying and concocting false information in order to smear him and who incites violence against the media and labels them our “enemies” – and the Capital Gazette was not afraid to call out the president with an ominous threat of their own:

“We won’t forget being called an enemy of the people!” says the letter, referring to the president’s worst comments about the media and the journalists who have exposed the crimes of Trump, his cronies, and his family at every turn.

The letter finishes with some inspiring words we can all take to heart in these dark times.

“Until then, keep reading. We’ve only just begun.”

Indeed. Let that be the warning that rings in the ears of Trump, the Republicans, the National Rifle Association, their fascist billionaire backers – this is only the beginning, and we’re coming for you.

To be clear – at the ballot box.

 

Colin Taylor

Managing Editor

Colin Taylor is the managing editor of the Washington Press. He graduated from Bennington College with a Bachelor's degree in history and political science. He now focuses on advancing the cause of social justice, equality, and universal health care in America.