By Frank Gormlie
EL CAJON, CA. A number of local and regional press and media reporters were excluded from Wednesday’s press conference held by El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells about Alfred Olango – the African-American man killed by police on Tuesday.
At a conference held in mid-afternoon at the El Cajon City Hall, nearly a half dozen reporters were barred from entering the room, including reporters from the San Diego Union-Tribune and Univision, the Mexican television station.
San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Lynsdsay Winkley -who has been covering the Alfred Olango shooting and protests – told this reporter that she and a number of other media people were blocked from entering the press conference. She then rapidly ticked off at least four news outlets. Then was confirmed by Sarah Parvini, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times, who was able to attend it.
Both reporters agreed that Winkley was not prohibited from entering the conference room because she was late.
This reporter also spoke to a reporter from Univsion, who also stated that he and his crew were barred from the conference.
This is the press conference held by Mayor Wells – where he pledged more transparency and sympathy for those demonstrating. As the mayor spoke, hundreds of demonstrators were blockading an intersection a mere half dozen blocks away.
As reported in today’s San Diego Union-Tribune, Wells stated:
“I understand that they (the protesters) feel frustrated by a system that they sometimes feel is not working in their favor. I understand that they’re wanting more information and they’re wanting it quickly.”
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