CNN Calls Freddie Gray "The Son Of An Illiterate Heroin Addict"

CNN Disrespects Freddie Gray

CNN has been really disappointing in a lot of the ways they’ve covered police brutality in this country and today is no different. In an article about the trial of the officers accused of murdering Freddie Gray, writers Ann O’Neill and Aaron Cooper used these words to describe the victim:

The April 19 death of Freddie Gray, the son of an illiterate heroin addict, made him a symbol of the black community’s distrust of police. His name is now invoked with those of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri; Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Ohio; Eric Garner in New York; and other black men who died during encounters with white police officers. In Gray’s case, three of the officers charged are white; three black.

“The son of an illiterate heroin addict”

The. Son. Of. An. Illiterate. Heroin. Addict.

Like, that’s how they chose to introduce him. Not Freddie Gray “innocent victim” or anything like that. Nope. “Son of an illiterate heroin addict.” How does this have any relevance to the case? What in the hell is the point? It’s another way to vilify and demean the life of a Black person in this country. It’s absurd that this was written and approved by an editor. Shame on you, CNN. Way to put the person who was killed on trial. This is racist victim-blaming at its worst.

And, as always, we’re not the only people to notice the racism.