Reporters at The Philadelphia Inquirer staged a partial strike Thursday with anger over the headlines of George Floyd’s protests turning the name of the Black Lives Matter group to read, “Buildings Are Important, Too.”
“On June 4, we called in sick and tired,” declare a signed letter by at least 44 “The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Color Journalists.”
“Sick and tired of pretending that everything is fine,” the letter added, tweeted by many of them who stated they stayed at home in protest. “Carelessness in our leadership makes our work more difficult, and the worst is our lives.”
The headline – comparing vandalism with buildings with international outrage triggered by the death of police prisoners – appeared on page 12 of the print edition Wednesday.
“We apologize, and regret having done so,” continued the apology, signed by Editor Gabriel Escobar, Managing Editor Patrick Kerkstra and Executive Editor Stan Wischnowski.
Philadelphia Inquirer
“The headlines allude to the Black Lives Matter movement, and suggest equality between the loss of buildings and the lives of black Americans. That is not acceptable.
“Although no comparison is intended, the intention is ultimately irrelevant.”
All three acknowledged, “This incident explains that change is needed, and we are committed to getting started immediately.”
On Thursday, the headlines were taken change online for now read, “Damaging the building disproportionately injured the people who were trying to be appointed by the protesters.”
