- Jun 2, 2018
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Black Thursday for Los Santos - Riots claim three lives
An official SAN News report
Last Thursday, Los Santos experienced an unprecedented event that shook the foundations of this city. Following online threats on local news forums, a crowd began to gather outside the City Hall during the evening hours of that day. At first, only a few disgruntled online trolls showed up, demanding a better standard of ethics in journalism from the SAN News Network. Fate, however, had bigger fish to fry: The Los Santos Police association (effectively, the LSPD worker union) was also on strike that day, demanding fairer payment and better representation in the media. An uncanny coalition quickly developed between the police and these internet trolls, as they had found themselves a common enemy.
Unionist police and internet trolls were the first to the scene.
(Photo: John Strickland)
The crowd kept coming and growing. People from all walks of life joined in, and things grew out of hand. Gang members started to show up; drunken citizens yelled ever-more aggressive slogans against the status quo; firearms became openly brandished and fired from. Suddenly, as if the hive-mind had spoken, the crowd clicked into action - the directive was clear. Some walked, others drove, but they all regrouped outside the SAN News network. At this point, police officers were seen throwing up gang signs with the infamous Lion's Pride Rastas, while troubled urban youths attempted to set fire to a car. What drove these individuals to such a state of mass delirium is truly unknowable, but their united demand for journalistic reform persisted throughout the riot, their shouts tearing across the night sky.
Scenes of disarray outside SAN News Headquarters.
(Photo: John Strickland)
Then, the inevitable happened. The car that had been effectively set ablaze by the urban youths exploded, claiming the life of 2 people that were with in its blast radius. This significantly reduced the amounts of rioters, as many fled in fear of what would happen next. A few hardened anarchic elements made their way to the paintball arena near All Saints General hospital, and proceeded to set fire to another vehicle. In the discord that ensued, one more person, a gang member from Los Flores, was killed. Eventually, a skeleton-crew of on-duty cops appeared on scene to arrest the perpetrators, but the damage had already been done. The few remaining ''party-goers'' fled into the side-streets.
The hooded citizen in this picture identified himself as part of a ''Hamburger Death Squad''. The people behind him declined comment.
(Photo: John Strickland [[credit to @Lazy for the well timed photo-bombing]])
In light of these horrific events, we here at the SAN News Network would like to make a statement that we stand firmly against violent behavior and have always promoted transparency in journalism. We understand the public's concerns and wish to engage in open and public dialogue with them, but it has to be said: Change cannot come at the cost of innocent people's lives. This Sunday, three families will be hosting three separate funerals, to mourn the death of a loved one.
We can change. It doesn't have to be this way.
With these thoughts in mind, we present to you a collection of video footage chronicling the events of last Thursday. May it serve as a reminder of the follies of mob rule and mass hysteria.
WARNING : THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL MAY BE DISTURBING OR UNSUITABLE FOR CERTAIN AUDIENCES. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
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