The media committed another hit job on Donald Trump Monday evening, falsely reporting that he personally ordered a large group of Black students be removed from a campaign rally held at Valdosta State University in Georgia.
The rumor started with Des Moines Register reporter Jennifer Jacobs who reported–without verifying–on Twitter and then in a report for USA Today that a group of Black students were kicked out before the rally began on orders by Trump. Jacob’s false report was picked up by many outlets without verification.
It was only hours after smearing Trump that Jacobs reported a flat denial from the Trump campaign.
Jacobs reported the students were not protesting yet a video report with her article includes a Black student stating “we came to the rally today just to make a statement with our attire.” The student and her group were dressed in black.
Jacobs reported the students were standing as a group on the top row of a section of bleachers when they were removed.
Trump has an announced policy that protesters will be removed from his rallies.
USA Today lede by Jacobs:
VALDOSTA, Ga. — About 30 black students who were standing silently at the top of the bleachers at Donald Trump’s rally here Monday night were escorted out by Secret Service agents who said the presidential candidate had requested their removal before he began speaking.
The sight of the students, who were visibly upset, being led outside by law enforcement officials created a stir at a university that was a whites-only campus until 1963.
Note that there are no qualifiers, such as ‘students claim they were removed at Trump’s order’ or anything remotely close to ethical reporting.
Mark Megahan