I remember when the left developed and delivered (ad nauseum) a narrative claiming that a DC policeman died shortly after the January 6, 2021 violence at the Capital, because someone allegedly struck him in the head with a fire extinguisher.
It was repeated on every mainstream media outlet, over, and over, and over. It was repeated as if it was fact.
EVERY mainstream print, radio and TV "news" outlet reported that officer Brian D. Sicknick was "killed by armed protesters who struck him on the head with a fire extinguisher". They all used the same terminology (I have my own thoughts who provided that terminology to the so-called news).
Always quick to report any story that creates the perception that conservatives victimize others, it was reported "Brian Sicknick was the capital police officer killed by rioters with a fire extinguisher. The other four were domestic terrorists in the act of trying to overthrow the United States of America and keep a fascist dictator in power. Their names are Irrelevant."
The narrative: "Sicknick was beat to death".
House of Representatives managers for former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial wrote in their trial memorandum on February 2, "The insurrectionists killed a Capitol Police officer by striking him in the head with a fire extinguisher."
The news was all over this. Take, for example, stories by the New York Times. There is a still-available report entitled, “Capitol Police Officer Dies from Injuries in Pro-Trump Rampage.” There was another Times report from the same day, entitled, “He Dreamed of Being a Police Officer, Then Was Killed by a Pro-Trump Mob”. The Times asserted: "On Wednesday, pro-Trump supporters attacked that citadel of democracy [i.e., the Capitol], overpowered Mr. Sicknick, 42, and struck him in the head with a fire extinguisher, according to two law enforcement officials. With a bloody gash in his head, Mr. Sicknick was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support. He died on Thursday evening." Facebook posts linking a fire extinguisher to Officers Sicknick’s death received more than a million interactions in roughly three weeks time.
The problem with this narrative is that Brian Sicknick was NEVER struck by a fire extinguisher.
The problem with this narrative is that Brian Sicknick NEVER had a bloody gash in his head.
The problem with this narrative is that it NEVER happened.
The apparent reality: Brian Sicknick apparently died of (what may have been) an unrelated stroke. That he died should be a sufficient tragedy. Most would argue that there is no need to create a false narrative around this. Most would argue that doing so is nothing more than a vulture-like attempt to use a death to foster your cause - especially when it is not true. Lets pick at the bones and see what we can come up with.
But not to the media, nor the leftist Government. To the media and the the leftist Government it was merely an opportunity. It should be of no concern to them that if and when they retract it, no one will read it, the damage will be done and the skinny leg jean wearing NPR listeners will have yet another "hate the fascist conservatives" arrow in their quiver.
But wait, we were repeatedly told that he was beaten, by both the media and Government officials. We were told that medical examiner's report on the cause of Sicknick's death would be released. We were told by a spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner "The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will release the cause and manner of death when this information is available". We were told that the Metropolitan Police Department told Newsweek that the department is actively investigating the officer's death.
Within the last week a law enforcement official told the Associated Press that evidence suggests Officer Sicknick ingested a chemical — "which may have contributed to his death". It is believed that this chemical was a pepper spray or bear spray. Shame on the bastards that sprayed him. But it was reported on Feb. 2 that medical examiners did not find signs that Officer Sicknick had sustained any blunt force trauma. On Feb. 22, Gladys Sicknick, the officer’s mother, denied that Brian Sicknick was struck in the head. "He wasn’t hit on the head no. We think he had a stroke, but we don’t know anything for sure," she said.
Brian Sicknick died on January 7th, and prior to that he had multiple conversations with family members. If anything was wrong with Mr. Sicknick it was not evident to those family members. His brother, Ken Sicknick, said on January 8th" "He (Brian) texted me last night (January 6th) and said, ‘I got pepper-sprayed twice,’ and he was in good shape." The family later received word that Brian Sicknick had a blood clot and had had a stroke and a ventilator was keeping him alive (he later died).
Surely the media would scramble to quickly correct their "mistake". To the media, truth is like mother's milk - isn't it?
Not so fast.
About 6 weeks after his death, the New York Times quietly “updated” its report, published over a month earlier, asserting that Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick had been killed by being struck with a fire extinguisher during the January 6 riot. According to Times, “new information has emerged regarding the death of the Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick that questions the initial cause of his death provided by officials close to the Capitol Police.” Could it be that the allegations in the article entitled, “Capitol Police Officer Dies from Injuries in Pro-Trump Rampage.” and “He Dreamed of Being a Police Officer, Then Was Killed by a Pro-Trump Mob” were not accurate? It couldn't be that our trusted media failed to research and verify facts prior to reporting something as being factual, could it?
And yet, what the Times referred to as “new information” actually began emerging on January 8th. It seems odd that something can be reported immediately, but that it would take six weeks for the "new information" on this seemingly emergent story to come out, could it, after all - in the media game "time is of the essence". If so, that might suggest the existence of some sort of Government and media shared hidden agenda, that only information that SUPPORTED the narrative should be reported as quickly as possible. Hey, that can't be right.
To the best of my knowledge, the autopsy results have not been released and there is no official cause of death, other than he succumbed to a stroke.
The Times recently reported "Medical experts have said he (Brian Sicknick) did not die of blunt force trauma, according to one law enforcement official." And yet on February 17th, when activist Candace Owens wrote on Facebook "No police officer was ever beaten to death with a fire extinguisher," it was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed.
Follow the narrative, even when it is not true.
The narrative was TO CREATE FEAR that conservatives victimize others and that if the crazed lunatics can kill a police officer, they can kill you as well. And if they are such an eminent danger to life and liberty, the Government MUST due something to suppress and control them.
Meaning, take away their civil liberties; starting with those of the insurrectionist. Since they cannot be identified, insurrectionist must mean "anyone who voted for Donald Trump", and there are initiatives (one at least which is linked to media darling AOC) to track people who voted for Trump. Seriously. See how all of this works?
And yet, the facts to date show that there is no evidence whatsoever to support the basis for their fear-mongering.
The real leftist mantra should be "Never overlook the opportunity to leverage a tragic event to further your cause, even if the facts do not support it".
As to the news - it isn't - it is creative writing. It simply and mindlessly follows the narratives provided to them, so long as they have a leftist twist.
No need for the facts. Move along.
No word yet on whether the Biden administration will now try to outlaw fire extinguishers or bear spray.
As a fact check, there is most certainly factual evidence showing some thug using a flag pole as a weapon to strike an officer. The man was identified as Peter Stager, who remains in custody without bail. Officer Mike Fanone had a heart attack while he was being pummeled, but fortunately he did not die.
