Silence is Consent

Trespassing Illegal Alien Stabs Army Ranger
The Arizona Republic Refuses to Print the Story
"Soldier Stabbed After Return from Iraq,"
KPHO-TV, February 13 2007

Blow the whistle on the Arizona Republic's management for "spiking" the story.

randy.lovely@arizonarepublic.com Executive Editor (602) 444-8790
john.leach@arizonarepublic.com Managing Editor (602) 444-8746
jeff.dozbaba@arizonarepublic.com Deputy Managing Editor (602) 444-4379
ward.bushee@arizonarepublic.com Editor in Chief (602) 444-8087
laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com Op-Ed in charge of sob stories (602) 444-8635

THE "HUSHED-UP" STORY THE REPUBLIC DOESN'T WANT TO PRINT
by Sandra Miller

Former Army Ranger Jason Okon was assaulted and stabbed by an illegal alien on February 2. As with so many illegal aliens, he had a prior arrest. Because of the Phoenix PDs illegal alien sanctuary policy (Operations Order 1.4.3), the illegal alien wasn't turned over to immigration offices for deportation, but was released back into the community. When the illegal alien didn't appear in court (did anyone really expect him to?), an arrest warrant was issued on his prior trespassing charge.

There's no doubt that the Republic knows the story, because the police were called to the scene immediately. The illegal alien even assaulted three police officers while being arrested!

The Republic heard the story within a few days when Elizabeth Okon called Laurie Roberts. Certainly the Republic specialist in tear-jerking stories should have been glad to tell the difficulties faced by a family when on-the-loose illegal aliens cause serious injuries to their family. (At least Laurie was glad to step up to the plate in December when a 16-year old girl suffered a hit-and-run by an illegal alien back in December 2006 "Hit-run suspect out of jail for free."

Knowing the Republic's pro-illegal alien agenda, the Okon family knew the need for being "up-front" when Laurie returned their call. After telling her how Jason Okon had been stabbed by an illegal alien with prior arrests who remained in the US courtesy of the Phoenix PD "illegal alien sanctuary" policy, they insisted that she report the story in a truthful and fortright manner without the Republic's usual apologist policy to illegal aliens.

Laurie must have know that "truthful and forthright" on the illegal alien issue wouldn't fly with her editorial management, because Roberts cancelled the appointment to interview Elizabeth Okon for the story.

While the Phoenix TV stations broke the story on February 13, the Republic continued looking the other way and continues to do that today.

But the Republic's pretenses of evading the story ended on Tuesday February 20. When Republic employee Mary Jo Pitzl covered the House Government Committee hearing, she heard Elizabeth Okon and myself testify to her husband's stabbing by an illegal alien and the refusal of the Republic to report the story even 18 days later. Ms. Pitzl's February 21 article on the Government Committee hearing's proceedings "House panel OKs hiring sanctions" makes her presence undeniable.

While Mrs. Okon's departure after testifying may have prevented the Republic's reporter from speaking with her, I remained through the end of the hearing. Ms. Pitzl (or any other reporter that may have chosen to cover the story) could easily have obtained the details for follow up.

Yet no one from the Republic has ever contacted the Okons for the story. This is the opportunity for the paper to offer WHY their refusal to print the story isn't linked to the clear pro-illegal alien agenda of the Republic. They needn't be concerned with keeping their policy hidden, because it's no secret to anyone in the Valley.

A Thursday night Town Hall member who called the Repubic last week to object was given several lame excuses:

(1) "police decided it wasn't a hate crime." That's not what Phoenix PD Detective Brian Korus _ told Elizabeth Okon.

(2) "maybe he (meaning the illegal alien) was disturbed." Does that mean if a "disturbed" illegal alien trespasses and assaults an American, the story should be "hushed up?"

(3) "police reports are really conflicting--we weren't sure what the story really was." But isn't that what newspaper journalists' job is--to sort through the conflicting tales and find out what really happened (unless of course their newspaper wants to conceal the story from the public)?

(4) "Lots of people get stabbed--the Republic can't print the story for each one." We know that's true--27 Americans daily are killed by illegal aliens (murder, rape, assault, DUI). That's directly from US-DOJ figures compiled by Congressmen Steve King of Iowa and Mike McCall of Texas.

The question is why it hasn't been printed. That the Republic's publishers might be hiding the Phoenix PD's "illegal alien sanctuary" policy (Operations Order 1.4.3) occurs to any citizen who knows of its existence despite the reluctance of the paper in disclosing it to the public.

Let the Republic management hear from Arizonans statewide (and all Americans) that we know they're suppressing the story just because it conflicts with their agenda and pre-established pro-illegal alien and pro-Mexican government bias. Without word from us, they'll like to think they're hoodwinking readers (or non-readers if that's the group you belong to).

Remember that "Silence is Consent!"

Posted February 27, 2007 05:22 PM
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