Will Media Report Increase in NYC Shootings Since 'Occupy Wall Street' Protests Began?

Will Media Report Increase in NYC Shootings Since OWS Protests Began?

By Noel Sheppard | Newsbusters | October 24, 2011 | 09:42

As NewsBusters previously reported, a number of Obama-loving media members were enthralled with Vice President Joe Biden's claim that failure to enact the President's jobs bill would cause a rise in murder and rape throughout the nation.

Of potentially more immediate consequence, the New York Post reported Saturday that as a direct result of police forces being diverted to monitor Occupy Wall Street protests, shootings in the city have dramatically risen in the past month:

The number of people shot surged 154 percent two weeks ago -- to 56 from 22 over the same week last year -- and spiked 28 percent in the last month. [...]

The recent gunplay has now pushed the number of shooting victims this year slightly above last year’s tragic tally -- to 1,484 from 1,451 -- through Oct. 16. [...]

Four high-ranking cops point the finger at Occupy Wall Street protesters, saying their rallies pull special crime-fighting units away from the hot zones where they’re needed.

Since Occupy Wall Street took over Zuccotti Park on Sept. 17, the NYPD has relied heavily on its borough task forces, the department’s go-to teams for rowdy crowds.