Charmayne Brown, Black Reporter, Attacked On Camera By White Family In SC

From the AP:

Three people upset that a news crew was reporting on the arrest of a relative attacked the television reporter and yelled racial slurs at her and a photographer, authorities said Tuesday.

The family members, all white, began yelling and charged at black WSPA-TV reporter Charmayne Brown while she was standing in the street near the family's home in Union, said news director Alex Bongiorno.

Brown was punched in the head, and black cameraman Ti Barnes was also struck as he tried to pull family members off Brown, Bongiorno said. A video of the attack shows Brown, who wasn't seriously injured, defending herself.

"I think she's more affected by the verbal abuse than the physical abuse. She's really shaken up," Bongiorno said.

The fight was taped by a white crew from a second television station. They were not attacked.

Tousha Smith, 31, Billie Joe Taylor, 31, and Trina Vinson, 48, were being held at a Union jail Tuesday evening on assault and battery charges, authorities said. South Carolina has no law allowing a hate crime charge.

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Attempts to contact the family were unsuccessful; messages left at several numbers were not immediately returned, and authorities said they weren't sure whether the three had attorneys.

Charges are pending against a fourth person, authorities said. The reporter and photographer were not charged.

Brown was reporting on the death of 73-year-old Tommy Howell, who was killed by a blow to the head after an argument, authorities said. His body was found Tuesday in his home. Police arrested his grandson, Shane Howell, and charged him with murder, Union Police Chief Sam White said.

Shane Howell remains in jail, and it is unclear whether he has an attorney.

"These people were very upset," White said. "I guess they just took it out the wrong way."

Comments

[Blutus]

Where are the Black Panthers when you need them?

These crackers need some serious enlightenment!

[DoAsISay]

That black reporter is so LUCKY!!!

[Jacky1]

It always shocks me to see examples of the apathy that Americans have. Why did none of the bystanders help that poor reporter? Because they were too busy filming it? I guess they went beyond the normal by calling 9-1-1. I guess that makes them heros. Are all those white men that were standing by filming so scared of the racist white women's slaps? Is thay why they didn't jump in? I think that people should be called on the carpet for not helping others. Standing by and filming an assault or other crime does not make someone free of any responsibility to help others.

[mix2007]

I didn't know that Ferraro was down in SC yesterday

(snark)

[robXdion]

Now THIS is the America we all recognize! Thanks Geraldine, I didn't know I had it so good being black.

[iPolitics]

That's who Hillary's campaign is courting

[JJinWI]

Too much Jerry Springer viewing.... how pathetic.

[carlgt1]

white trash, proud RepugliKKKan members

[abbiehoffmansghost]

That's what we like to see, good old American values.

[keemia]

White trash killing white trash. She shouldn't have even attempted to report on it.

And no hate crime law in the south? Big surprise, they'd all be in jail.

[Massconfusion]

Clearly this woman was assualted and her rights violated1 i hope she is alright and that these people go to jail.

That being said there are other members of the "Press" who could use the snot slapped out of them...

[AguynamedWayne]

Ok how long will it take until Obama supporters are on this board blaming Hillary Clinton for this attack? The count begins.....

[RevRick]

More evidence of the amazing advantage people with dark skin have...

Those white reporters sure missed out on a good story when the attackers ran right past them and attacked the black woman.

I am sure Gerraldine Ferraro will soon come to the defense of these poor women who have only been arrested because they are white.

[VegasDem]

Bravo Rev. Racist America rears it's ugly head once again.

[bimplebean]

Ooooh! SNAP!

[LORISNJ]

Nice tie-in, RevRick. Yep, Charlie Manson might get his race war after all!

Gerraldine needs to go away now!

[Camel54]

Whoa, cool it with the accusations that Geraldine Ferraro is some sort of racist. That's absurd. Her comment about Obama had more to do with the political circus the Democrats are performing than whether any one race is better than the other. I'm an avid Obama supporter, and I think this business with Ferraro is ridiculous. It's a way to combat the appearance that the Obama campaign is the only group saying negative things about an opponent. Frankly all of this is distracting. Obama is black and has probably garnered some support solely for that reason--big whoop. Clinton is a monster, and I think she should embrace that as part of her "I'm a fighter" strategy. Everyone needs to cool it with the accusations--these things can ruin people's lives for no good reason.

[Ides]

The white reporters got to watch the story. The black reporter got to be the story. That's so unfair!

[antiparanoid]

Charmayne Brown is just lucky she isn't Geraldine Ferraro.

[onedivasinger]

Are these the blue collar types that support Hillary and McCain? South Carolina is a national disgrace!