Sharyl Attkisson: Media Should Look at Evidence Before Saying Police Officers Motivated by Race

Investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson today issued a warning to journalists covering the cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and encouraged them to look at the evidence presented before accusing police officers of being motivated by race.

Attkisson today discussed Brown and Garner’s cases on Fox News’ “Media Buzz.” Both men, who were unarmed, died at the hands of law enforcement.

In both cases, Attkisson, a Daily Signal senior independent contributor, said evidence shows neither Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson nor New York City Police Department officers shouted racial slurs or had a pattern of being motivated by race.

Host Howard Kurtz said though such evidence hasn’t been presented, there is a “gut feeling” that if Garner and Brown were white, “would these tragedies have unfolded in the same way?”

“It’s a fair question to ask,” Attkisson said in response. “Advocates can ask it. But I think as a journalist reporting it, you have to be careful to understand what the evidence says and doesn’t say.”

Wilson shot and killed Brown in August. Garner died after being put in a chokehold by New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo. Neither officer was indicted by a grand jury.

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