New York – Following protests online, CNN removed a description of Baltimore’s Freddie Gray as “the son of an illiterate heroin addict” in a story posted about the first police officer about to go on trial for Gray’s death last spring while in police custody.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Several tweets suggested that the reference amounted to victim blaming. Gray, who is black, died after being driven around in a police van in a case that drew wide attention to the issue of police treatment of minorities.
The print story, originally posted Monday, was changed that evening to remove the description of Gray’s mother. In an editor’s note, CNN said the reference was deleted “because it appeared out of context.”
CNN had no comment on Tuesday about the change. Gray is described in both versions of the story as a symbol of the black community’s distrust of police.
Maybe they had to remove it because it wasn’t completely truthful as she is actually a heroin and meth addict.
of course it would not due for people to know what kind of environment (or lack thereof) Freddie lived to explain why he acted in the manner in which he acted.
If it was true, they should have published it. If it is not true, they should not have published it.
it is completely irrelevant to have mentioned that his Mom was a Heroin addict, and it certainly does not give the police any reason to have killed him.
I am an ex- drug addict, and specifically Heroin for 5 years. It destroys your life and can destroy your childrens life (i have 3 young kids). But children should never be referred to as child of a drug addict . Its not their burden to bear
What does the character of Freddie Gray’s mother have to do with the legal question of whether he was killed by police negligence?