Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson Slams Media for 'Glamorizing' and 'Giving Platform' to Ferguson Rioters

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On Tuesday, Ron Johnson, the captain of the Missouri Highway Patrol, blamed the media for “glamorizing” and giving a platform to violent thugs intent on causing violence and agitating crowds in Ferguson, Missouri.

In an appearance on MSNBC’s Daily Rundown after another night of rioting and confrontations, Johnson told host Craig Melvin that “we have a lot of media that have not done a great job” and made the situation worse–and tougher for police. He said that on Monday evening, when small crowds started to swell in size, “that criminal element, that got out here with masks on, that wanted to agitate and build up the crowd, would stop in front of the media.”

“The media would swarm around them, give them a platform and glamorize their activity,” Johnson said…