Balanced News Blog

Before I begin this editorial, I must express my profound disapproval of all hate groups. This includes Neo-Nazi’s.

Yesterday ABC News printed this headline on their web site:

According to this headline, it was the Nazi’s, not the protestors who were responsible for the violence. One thing is crystal clear, ABC News got the story 100% wrong. According to the Toledo Blade which had reporters on the ground, it was the protestors who initiated the violence by throwing rocks. Shortly after the rock throwing began, the Nazi’s retreated and the protestors began to riot, loot and assault police officers and paramedics.

Here is the timeline of events as reported by the Toledo Blade:

11:35 a.m.: Protesters throw rocks at the neo-Nazis and mounted police patrols. Police make the first arrest involving the protest.

11:45 a.m.: After surrounding the neo-Nazis, numbering about 15, police and the marchers walk to Woodrow Wilson Park, where a wall of police stands between the neo-Nazis and members of the media gathered for a press conference.

11:50 a.m.: Bill White, a spokesman for the National Socialist Movement — which calls itself “America’s Nazi Party” — complains that police are preventing 40 more of his members from joining them. Police say those members arrived late, after the area was secured.

11:55 a.m.: The first of countless tear gas canisters are fired by police at crowds along Mulberry. Mobs swarm Bronson Avenue, throwing bricks and rocks through windows and hitting several people. John Szych runs into a back room of his house and emerges with a handgun. He fires six warning shots. “You want more?” he yells.

11:57 a.m.: As angry crowds along Stickney begin throwing bricks and rocks at vehicles, police decide to cancel the march out of fear that the situation could get out of control. Screaming “censorship” and making the Nazi salute, the neo-Nazis eventually agree to get into their cars and drive away.

12:20 p.m.: The neo-Nazis are gone from the North Toledo area by now, but violence begins to intensify. Crowds of several hundred people begin gathering at the intersection of Central and Mulberry.

12:25 p.m.: The Central and Mulberry mobs begin throwing rocks. Police respond by launching tear gas canisters.

12:30 p.m.: An endless stream of vehicles, including a local TV truck, is pelted with bricks and rocks by mobs. At least one Toledo police sport utility vehicle is seen driving through the neighborhood with its windshield and other windows smashed.

12:35 p.m.: The standoff between police and rioters intensifies on Mulberry. Thirty or more vehicles have their windows smashed by rioters at Central and Mulberry.

12:40 p.m.: Police yell through megaphones, asking the crowd to disperse or face arrest.

1:15 p.m.: Chief Navarre declares the “worst is over” and praises his officers’ restraint.

Fox News has video documentation of the riot. Video via The Political Teen.

All of this evidence is readily available on the internet so I must ask the obvious question, is ABC News incompetent or are they applying a twisted form of affirmative action to their news reporting?