AP Coverage of Anti-Iran Deal Rally Accurate… Sort Of

Wednesday evening, July 22, 2015, roughly 12,000 people gathered in Times Square in New York City to demonstrate against the proposed nuclear deal struck between the Obama administration, European powers, Russia, China and Iran. Congress is in a 60-day review process after which it will vote on the deal. Protesters want their Senators and Representatives to vote against the agreement.

Though the Associate Press coverage was largely accurate, the story –picked up by media around the world– contained a number of unsettling elements. The article begins:

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of protesters packed into Times Square Wednesday evening to demand that Congress vote down the proposed U.S. deal with Iran.

As the crowd loomed behind police barricades, chants of “Kill the deal!” could be heard for blocks. The event, billed as the “Stop Iran Rally” consisted mainly of pro-Israel supporters, though organizers said it represents Americans of all faiths and political convictions.

Note the last sentence in the second paragraph reporting that the rally “consisted mainly of pro-Israel supporters, though organizers said it represents Americans of all faiths and political convictions.” Can’t “Americans of all faiths and political convictions” actually be “pro-Israel supporters”? There is no conflict. What is the AP implying?

Indeed, not only attendees but also speakers were drawn from all faiths and political convictions. James Woolsey served as Undersecretary of the Navy for Jimmy Carter and CIA Director for Bill Clinton. He’s a Democrat. George Pataki was the Governor of New York and is currently running for the Republican nomination for President. Kassim Hafeez is a British Muslim of Pakistani descent. Allen West is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and a former Republican Congressman. Richard Kemp is a retired British Army Colonel who was Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan. All of them spoke at the rally. None of them is Jewish.

But, the AP chose to mention only one of the rally’s speakers by name:

Alan Dershowitz, a prominent Jewish attorney, said he was “opposing the deal as a liberal Democrat.” He said he believed democracy was “ignored” because the Obama administration negotiated the deal without congressional input.

Why is it necessary to identify Dershowitz’ religion? And, even though he is Jewish, couldn’t he actually be opposing the deal because he is a liberal Democrat? Again, the implication is disturbing.

As you can see from the photographs below, the rally was extremely well attended by thousands of people, young and old, black and white, veterans, students, and others, all united by their opposition to a deal they believe endangers American interests. Whatever the AP aims to imply, the pictures tell the story…