Dissent Rages Inside The NY Times

New York Times staff engaged in a rare, and very public pushback against the decision by the newspaper’s editorial page to publish a controversial op-ed on Wednesday, with dozens of Times writers, editors, and contributors warning that the implications of such a move “puts black @NYTimes staff in danger.”

Mediaite reports the backlash was centered on a Times op-ed from hardline conservative Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), entitled “Send in the Troops.” In it, he argued for the deployment of active-duty military to “restore order,” a highly incendiary move that requires the president to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act, designed to quell massive civil unrest. The order was last used by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 to regain control of the massive riots that shook Los Angeles and killed dozens in the wake of the acquittal of four police officers who viciously beat Rodney King.

The fierce criticisms and outrage reached into nearly every corner of the paper, and included one of its most celebrated journalists, who just won the Pulitzer Prize.

I’ll probably get in trouble for this, but to not say something would be immoral. As a black woman, as a journalist, as an American, I am deeply ashamed that we ran this. https://t.co/lU1KmhH2zH

— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) June 4, 2020

i feel compelled to say that i disagree with every word in that Tom Cotton op-ed and it does not reflect my values. this piece does though https://t.co/Vrlw3NVtBH

— Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel) June 3, 2020

I love working at the Times and most days of the week I'm very proud to be part of its mission. But tonight, I understand the people who treat me like I work at a tobacco company. I stand with my colleagues.

— Taffy Brodesser-Akner (@taffyakner) June 4, 2020

Surreal and horrifying to wake up on the morning of June 4 - the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown - to this headline. pic.twitter.com/vNtiFz3vqq

— Amy Qin (@amyyqin) June 4, 2020

James Bennet, the Times editorial page editor commented via Twitter: "Times Opinion owes it to our readers to show them counter-arguments, particularly those made by people in a position to set policy. We understand that many readers find Senator Cotton’s argument painful, even dangerous. We believe that is one reason it requires public scrutiny and debate."

According to a Morning Consult poll conducted between May 29 and June 1, a majority of Americans — 58 percent — support cities using the U.S. military to bolster local law enforcement. That is very different than what Cotton proposes, which is the president invoking the Insurrection Act to unilaterally mobilize the military. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to dismiss military mobilization as a fringe idea among the American public.