Mayor of St. Paul retracts his outside agitator statement

May 31, 2020 12:49 AM

T0go

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/sergeiklebnikov/2020/05/30/mayor-says-he-was-incorrect-in-saying-every-person-arrested-in-minneapolis-protests-was-from-out-of-state/#10fdf1b5233c

This narrative is straight out the 1960s anti-civil-rights playbook. It deligitimizes protests by suggesting that they are caused by a few anonymous wrong-doers.

I know this was an attractive narrative for a lot of people who'd like to believe that it was only a few bad actors responsible for violence. Things are chaotic right now and there are many people peddling a variety of narratives on social media. Expect things to continue to be fluid; expect unconfirmed and false reports to continue over the coming days.

I saw at least three posts promoting this now-retracted statement on the front page today, let's see if a lie really goes around the world before truth gets its pants on.

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notthatshocked

minneapolis

news

civil_rights_movement

Thanks for the honesty

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Inaccurate briefing from ... the police!? *GASP* I’M SHOCKED I TELL YOU. SHOCKED.

6 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

We have some great agitators here - let them be recognized!

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 3

That's why you don't trust police reports completely. Ever.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Where’s the video gone from yesterday showing a man all in black calmly smashing windows then walking away when the real protesters stop him

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

That was some sketchy shit - looked like someone trying to delegitimise the protests and change the narrative..

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

The only outside agitators have been the agents provocateurs

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 3

If I learned anything from The Wire is that the stat game they play is taught by the government wanting positive numbers. Reap what you sow.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Yeah, really, we need more of this. Someone willing to correct themselves when given evidence to the contrary of what they said

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

It's not enough to satisfy me, given the circumstances, but this is true.

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I fucking told you so!! Beware politicians lying.

6 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

its not a lie if you believe it be true..

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 3

Riots*

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

So it's not Agent Provocateurs after all?

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

Why would that even matter? What happened to him affects us all as Americans. This shit needs to stop.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

An undercover cop broke a bunch of windows and was later identified. They know what they're doing and they know how to make people look bad.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 3

Who's running things? The police or the mayor?

6 years ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 2

Co-op game. Lying in unision.

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

But... white nationalists...

6 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 10

...are murdering more people than Al queda.

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Ok, as a complete outsider, I don't know who to believe anymore, or which would be better. Do we WANT the looters and rioters to be local?

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Both sides will the same answers for different reasons. Everyone is insane

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Didn't they say 80% of the people who were arrested were from outside the city? I would assume they know who they arrested.

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

As soon as I saw the other claims being pushed by others on this site I found it reaaaal convenient and hardly likely lol

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Remember, folks. Do not ever take anything the police say at face value.

6 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 5

Never take anything anyone says at face value, everyone can lie, cheat and mislead.

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Oof. That didn’t take long.

6 years ago | Likes 197 Dislikes 3

Obvious to anyone who wasn't looking for "proof" of the narrative they wanted to push

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

And honestly so very tiresome. At least the walk back was public and quick enough people are still paying attention.

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Aside from being immediately obvious.

6 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 0

Lol, right? Like all those guys rolling 5 TV’s and 40 pairs of shoes out of a target are going to take them home to Idaho or PA or wherever.

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I first saw Barr saying this and knew right away that it was wrong. Good for me to be correct to distrust the AG.

6 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 2

We burned down the police station and I'm not mad about it. They burned down a bunch of businesses and I am mad about that. The ratio was (1

6 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 3

you don't pay taxes do you? you'll just pay to build a new one, just stupid.

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 2

Closer to 80% out of state. But to say it doesn't exist is bullshit a black SUV. Shot at a restaurant tonight and at people while they (2

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Shouted the n word. There absolutely are outside agitators here undermining our actual protests. We're not perfect and there is some (3

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Violence. A lot of it has been in retaliation to police escalation of peaceful protests. Nothing here is monolithic. Stop acting like it is.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

"Nearly all of the arrests were locals" does not sound like "80%". Where'd you get that statistic?

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

this.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

And I got downvoted for pointing out how dumb his statement was

6 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 2

Imgur is social media. It is dumb by nature.

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Same here

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Argued about this with someone earlier in usersub.

6 years ago | Likes 164 Dislikes 4

Could have been me. Still the point remains valid that there are shitbirds among the protesters stirring shit up. Still my bad.

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

not that person but i also believed this in hopes that people wouldnt destroy their own city. This is shameful but i'm glad the truth is out

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

to be fair this was signal-boosted by government and media accounts who really ought to know better

6 years ago | Likes 66 Dislikes 0

They do know better. Know what "news" better make money.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

6 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 3

You mean there isnt nazi caravans storming minneanapolis to rob the local businesses?

6 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 4

There are actually a lot of out of state people and white supremacists coming here. They’re targeting minority owned businesses.

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

Got a source?

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

My eyes and those of my close friends?

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Don’t forget the hordes of Russians!!

6 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Chinese coming out of the wetworks too.

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Straight to the front page with this!

6 years ago | Likes 334 Dislikes 7

The sad part is he had so much credibility because he was a victim of police misconduct. Now he's just part of the machine.

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

But if this goes to the front page, it'll contradict all those posts and comments in user sub!

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Honestly? It's kind of refreshing to see a public figure admit error and provide corrected information.

6 years ago | Likes 733 Dislikes 6

I love our mayor ❤️ Mayor Carter isn’t perfect, but he’s present and he cares

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Amen to that

6 years ago | Likes 73 Dislikes 1

Thankyou!!!

6 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

He needs to address who (the cops) gave him that information, too, but I agree otherwise, it's important that he gave a timely, open apology

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Damn, you guys are really desensitised to being lied to, when you give kudos to a person because they later admit they lied.

6 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 2

The mayor was claiming the violent people were out of state and the peaceful protesters were from in. I don't think outside agitator fits /

6 years ago | Likes 169 Dislikes 8

That narrative. It sounds like the mayor was trying to sound like he was on the side of his community by saying "ohh no we're only /

6 years ago | Likes 122 Dislikes 4

Arresting those people from out of state. I'm still on your side"

6 years ago | Likes 91 Dislikes 2

I dont even know what's going on anymore dude. I've seen conflicting info and videos for days now

6 years ago | Likes 31 Dislikes 2

Same here, everyone had a narrative to push. I just tune it out

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 3

Which is why there are riots. Because people aren't listening.

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Also because people are.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Lol very good point!

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

aren't police records public? you can do your own research and find out who was lying to you.

6 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

It's like you can't trust "news" anymore.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

The internet is good at making long-established information available, but very bad at real-time information, because of stuff like this

6 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

Welcome to the Free Marketplace of Ideas!

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I should qualify that. It’s good at real-time sports scores. Which I look forward to using again someday.

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

So, locals trashed the city rather than out-of-state? How is that better?

6 years ago | Likes 125 Dislikes 32

because its not my city..

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 1

I’m glad you seek information rather than assume :)

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

It's not but it shows the authorities are using old school segragationist methods.

6 years ago | Likes 75 Dislikes 4

Its not about better or worse it just is

6 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Police violence against "external agitators " is seen as more acceptable. Makes for a more controllable narrative

6 years ago | Likes 54 Dislikes 3

Keep in mind that many were using the outsider claim to support theories of a conspiracy to make protestors seem like rioters. Also false.

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Exactly - people are naturally tribalist, so they don't care about police violence against people not from their tribe (city).

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

it's better because it's the truth

6 years ago | Likes 324 Dislikes 1

What separates liberals from conservatives. Liberals don't lie to themselves.

6 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 10

I bet the conservatives would reverse that statement. Both seems rather deluded to an outsider.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Well said sir

6 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 0

The truth is important, i.e. it's the narrative that should be told. That's not the same as "better".

6 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 1