CNN airs whale movie during Ferguson riots

Is it me or do the police force in Ferguson resemble the U.S. Army in Fallujah? Looking at social media, we can figure out that the U.S. police force is now bringing democracy to Missouri but one thing is different: national television networks are not live broadcasting.

For example CNN, which broadcasted for 10 hours from Taksim Square in Istanbul during Gezi Park events, preferred to air "Blackfish," a movie about whales, while chaos was erupting on the streets of Ferguson. I remember CNN was mocking its "editorially-independent" affiliate CNNTurk run its regularly scheduled program and show a documentary of penguins on the weekend the clashes started. The Turkish government was to blame for the broadcast streaming choice of CNNTurk. So who is responsible for CNN? Well, I should give the devil its due. CNN was giving updates regarding the "violence" in Ferguson between the movie Blackfish and the report "Robin Williams is still dead" on Saturday night when Missouri Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency and a curfew in the town. You haven't misheard. A curfew in the U.S. Meanwhile, MSNBC preferred to show Lockup while Fox News reran Huckabee, Stossel and Megyn Kelly's old interviews with Bill Ayers.

It seems their blindness has passed after strong criticism. While I am penning this piece, CNN is covering Ferguson live, using Governor Nixon's black policeman card and giving the message "Witnesses say some provocateurs provoked the violence against the police." Captain Ron Johnson is saying, "This should has [sic] to stop. I don't want anyone to get hurt," and CNN is giving the breaking news that two people have been shot. The day after being handed control of the protests, Johnson told reporters, "I think we handled it just right." I suppose he has changed his mind. After all, they invoke "emergency" that enables the authorities to restrict ordinary rights and liberties, and to deploy extraordinary state powers, right? They can't have looting and crimes at night, as Governor Nixon said, they can't have people being fearful, right?

An 18-year-old black boy, Michael Brown, was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, 10 days ago. What began as an impromptu reaction soon evolved into a sustained protest and it may turn into a movement. How does the U.S. treat civil movements in other countries and the ones on its own lands? Look at the extremely militaristic police response to the protests and arbitrarily arrested journalists. Everyone in Ferguson seemed to be at risk of being tear-gassed or arrested without charge, being insulted and called "animals" and having rifles pointed at them without warning. What do you think? How would the U.S. media cover Ferguson if it happened in another country, for example Turkey? Wait. How should we act against the use of excessive police force? Should we state that we are concerned over the situation in the U.S. or strongly condemn police brutality, or should I say snipers pointing their guns, against civilians? Should we support moderates who can bring stability to the U.S.? Or should we pretend as if the U.S. is restoring democracy in St Louis?

Even President Obama said, "There is never an excuse for violence against police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting." Should we curse him as a dictator, force him to apologize, to resign? The hacktivist group Anonymous had one of its Twitter accounts suspended after it claimed to reveal the name of Michael Brown's shooter. Will The New York Times Editorial Board strongly advise Twitter to refrain from cooperating with the Obama government or should we do that?