Newspaper runs story about made-up travel warning by “Defund Police” group.

SAN ANTONIO, TX, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 – In a stunning example of irresponsible and shoddy journalism, the San Antonio Express-News ran a story¹ about a bogus travel warning put out by a group dedicated to defunding the police department.

The Express-News story, which essentially parroted a September 8, 2020 press release put out by the radical “Defund SAPD Coalition,” included the organization’s mock “Travel Advisory,’ complete with their self-defined advisory “levels,” giving readers the impression that they should take this completely fabricated warning seriously. By running this story and including the “Travel Advisory,” which was made to appear as an official government advisory like those put out by the U.S. State Department, the Express-News and its reporter Madalyn Mendoza, who without question, accepted the groups assertion that we’re a ‘sundown city,’ has done a grave disservice to the people of San Antonio, and especially its African American readers, by misinforming and instilling fear.

“The Express-News should be ashamed of itself for running this bogus, anti-police propaganda,” said Michael Helle, President of the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association. “The Express-News has done a great disservice to the people of San Antonio, especially our city’s African American residents, with scaremongering by a radical organization dedicated to defunding our police department.”

The people of San Antonio overwhelmingly support police and reject the “Defund Police” movement. They want to see more police in their neighborhood, not less. SAPOA is dedicated to supporting our members and working to make our community safer, stronger, and better.

1 “Local group calls San Antonio a ‘sundown town,’ issues travel warning for Black people,” San Antonio Express-News, September 8, 2020.