Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Endorsements and editorials are made solely by the ownership of this newspaper. As is the case at most newspapers across the nation, The Spokesman-Review newsroom and its editors are not a part of this endorsement process. (Learn more.)

Race to hate fails to wait for credible reporting

It would be nice if we could chalk up the false story about Syrian refugees involved in rape to an innocent error. But this wasn’t like the childhood game “Telephone,” where a whispered line becomes misheard as it’s merrily passed along.

No, the false narrative probably was planted to stoke the fears of people who are apt to believe the worst about strangers in their midst.

To recap, a story circulated on social media about children at an apartment complex in Twin Falls, Idaho, involved in rape. The perpetrators were “reportedly” Syrian refugees. Reported by whom? Rumor-mongers and conspiracy mavens. No official sources were cited.

Some fearful Twin Falls residents descended on a City Council meeting demanding to know more about what happened and why a cover-up had been launched. It didn’t help that the false narrative made it to a conspiracy-stoking website and was linked-to on a highly trafficked site that rhymes with “sludge.”

As it turns out, something did occur at the apartment complex, and it is under investigation. Names have been withheld – as they always are in such cases – because the subjects are juveniles. The incident involved three boys and a 5-year-old girl. Two of the boys are refugees, but they were not recently moved to Idaho. One is from Iraq; the other is from Sudan.

There were no Syrian refugees and there was no rape, according to the Twin Falls police chief and county prosecutor. In addition, the false story stated that 50 Syrian refugees were recently relocated to Twin Falls. Also not true.

It is no accident that Syrian refugees were implicated by these rumors. The issue of relocating them to the United States became a flashpoint after the terrorist attack in Paris. So in all likelihood, this rumor was spread to provide “proof” that such refugees are a ticking time bomb, rather than the victims of terrorism.

The county prosecutor suspects a group that opposes refugee resettlement was responsible for the false report. What’s particularly disturbing is that before this story could be confirmed, many people had made up their minds.

False stories abound these days, thanks to the internet, email and social media. And in many instances, the people duped continue to treat these shady sources as credible. It never seems to occur to them that these are deliberately false rumors, and they’ve been played.

When what actually happened was reported, this newspaper’s website quickly filled with angry messages from people who didn’t appreciate that the facts didn’t line up with their suspicions. The hair-trigger readiness to reveal hate is simply sad.

There isn’t much to be done about that, but for those who actually prefer the truth, this should stand as a lesson: Wait for confirmation from reputable news sources before spreading the word.

Because unlike that innocent game of “Telephone,” false stories can do real damage.

To respond to this editorial online, go to www.spokesman.com and click on “Opinion.”