The
Los Angeles Times today challenges the tales of murder, rape,
and destruction at the Superdome that were widely reported in the
chaotic days after Hurricane Katrina.
With *only* ten bodies found in the Superdome and four in the
convention center, among whom was one gunshot victim, the authors
cast aside reports of the post-Katrina mayhem as myths.
Yet with the key fourth paragraph, "His assessment is one of
several in recent days to conclude that newspapers and television
exaggerated criminal behavior in the wake of Hurricane Katrina,
particularly at the overcrowded Superdome and Convention
Center."
Is the Times overreaching here? The
article only addresses crimes at the
Superdome and Convention Center. The looting still stands.
For a small sample of the breakdown of law in New Orleans after
Katrina, peruse a day or two of the New Orleans
Times-Picayune's blog style
reporting. Without much searching, you'll read about a
dead body abandoned (at the Convention Center), residents
arming themselves against trespassers, and
looters spreading thin police resources.
Not all reports of lawlessness from New Orleans were hype.
topics:
Television, Law
