If you’ve been following reporter Salena Zito for a while, you know she’s from the Pittsburgh area, so she was near the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue that killed 11 people.
What you didn’t know about Zito is that she’s an anti-Semite who caused the shooting by writing about President Trump so much — or so a Guardian reporter might have you believe.
In middle of a somber moment at staging area while I was talking to a member of the Jewish community this @guardian reporter started screaming at me that I was an anti-Semite/that I caused shooting because I reports on Trump & to leave and kept screaming in my face to get out pic.twitter.com/t8shcgTR9W
— SalenaZito (@SalenaZito) October 27, 2018
Zito takes a lot of flack by interviewing Trump supporters who aren’t insane conspiracy theorists, but this is ridiculous.
Typical looking beta male.
— MB (@marcalici0us) October 27, 2018
I hoped you screamed back.
— kim (@TrumpsRockin) October 27, 2018
What's his name?
— Nickarama (@Nickarama1) October 27, 2018
Could it have been Mike Elk? He’s a Guardian labor reporter from Pittsburgh.
As a reporter, my first instincts this morning we’re to run to the scene of the massacre.
Just now I stopped for lunch and the tears hit.
I grew up in this neighborhood, I go out to eat here all the time.
Are we gonna be targeted again?
— Mike Elk (@MikeElk) October 27, 2018
Whoever it was …
This guy needs a sit down!
— Andrea (@mapetitech0u) October 27, 2018
Hey @guardian do you approve of your "journalist" behaving that way? She had nothing to do with the gunman's despicable act, yet he blames her, screams at her? Unprofessional, inhuman and the reason most media has no credibility.
— karenWV (@kelsieA67) October 27, 2018
Why is it that every time something like this happens, they look like THIS guy? Very rude and this should definitely be addressed by the Guardian.
— Tina Lou (@tinalou40) October 27, 2018
Not only does he lack a basic understanding of your incredible & informative work, but he also lacks a basic sense of decency. My prayers are with a city & the people I cherish. Stay safe! #Pittsburgh
— VanessaViera (@vanvpr) October 27, 2018
That guardian reporter is as full of rage as those committing these horrific crimes against humanity. He needs a timeout, and perhaps his press creds to be revoked until he cools off. No way someone with that hot of a head can report in an unbiased way.
— MamaMia (@tammyback) October 27, 2018
I'm sorry that deranged lunatic did that. He does not speak for me or my fellow coreligionists
— Jordan Schachtel (@JordanSchachtel) October 27, 2018
Thank you. I’m still shaking what really upsets me is this is what happens when a lie travels. Or even worse when people believe what they want because it reinforces their side. https://t.co/N6LVZzjv9q
— SalenaZito (@SalenaZito) October 27, 2018
Stay safe. Keep reporting. Keep getting the truth out there.
— mfuller (@yolcuatmom) October 27, 2018
* * *
Update:
It was Mike Elk, and he apologized … sort of.
My apologies if you were offended by what I said.
I grew up in this neighborhood and as a Jew, have long dealt w/ anti-antisemitism in Western PA. It was an emotional time to see Jews from my neighborhood murdered for merely being Jews.
My apologies again if you were offended
— Mike Elk (@MikeElk) October 27, 2018
Ah, so this is one of those “I apologize if you were offended” apologies, not an “I apologize for what I said” apology. Hell yes, she’s offended.
How NOT to write an apology for screaming at a reporter, calling her an anti-Semitic, and blaming her personally for a shooting.@guardianUS @guardian – Have a word with him, please. pic.twitter.com/WUuLOkarym
— Sandy appreciates you! (@RightGlockMom) October 27, 2018
Related:
‘Sanitized’. REALLY?! Blue-check journo attacks Salena Zito for covering Trump supporters who AREN’T racist enough https://t.co/YgKsuwxUWl
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 26, 2018
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