In a parking lot full of countless open spots, MSNBC decided to set up their camera crew in a handicap spot, forcing a disabled Air Force Veteran (who took a photo of MSNBC blocking the spot) to find a spot elsewhere.
According to the Daily Caller, “James Berrie, an Air Force veteran who is confined to a wheelchair, said he was going to vote early on Tuesday when he noticed an MSNBC crew blocking both handicap parking spots in front of Houston’s Bayland Community Center.”
He posted a photo on Facebook below, cautioning that it was a “different kind of voter suppression.”
[I] Went to vote, and found this waiting for us. The only van accessible spot and they’re filming in it. We asked them to move, pointed out how it was wrong, then went to vote, because it takes time to load up. But came out and still there. Not even packing up, still getting ready for their shot. Then Sarah made a big scene and did not back down. They claimed they had a live shot, so Sarah walked into the shot. They cut the feed and got pissed. Fortunately other people joined in, plus firefighters who where there for Prop B. We finally left once their van was loaded. But there were plenty of witnesses and pictures/video taken by others.
This is suppression. If I couldn’t park I couldn’t vote. Their van had no handicap placards. And this happens all the time. Handicap spots are not loading zones for gear and equipment. Figure something else out. Especially at a public event where people are going to need the spots. This is not ok, and the station needs to be made aware. All of them.
It’s unclear who “Sarah” is, but I’d assume it’s James’ wife given the context. The MSNBC host pictured in the shot below is Mariana Atencio. Also of note, you can see empty parking spots in the background of the photo.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214930432348234&set=a.1456342162473&type=3&theater
Atencio later apologized for the incident after James’ post got publicity.
We made the wrong call today by using a disabled parking spot for our live shot in TX. There’s no excuse. I apologize to the two people who were on their way to vote as it’s one of the most important parts of our democracy; we’d never want to jeopardize anyone’s ability to do so
— Mariana Atencio (@marianaatencio) October 30, 2018
I watched the segment that Atencio was filming that day, and it couldn’t have been more amusing. She was shocked – SHOCKED I tell you – to learn that there are Hispanics who support President Trump and his strict border control policies. Who knew they didn’t all mindlessly fit into the ideological box MSNBC puts them in? Apparently not Atencio.
Interestingly enough, Ms. Atencio is from Venezuela. It’s odd she’d work for a network that wants to implement the same kind of policies that turned what was once the wealthiest countries in Latin America into a hell on Earth.
