The February 5 Demonstration at The Washington Post, by Dan Whitman
Following the January 26 announcement of cutbacks in staff at the Washington Post, community members gathered February 5 to mark their solidarity with the staff. AFL-CIO and other union notices had spread the word.In August of 2013, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos purchased the financially troubled paper with one one-hundredth of his fortune. He promised no editorial interference. When he pulled a drafted editorial in late 2024 endorsing Kamala Harris for president, staff writers such as Ruth Marcus quit and 250,000 angered subscribers canceled their subscriptions. Other signs of editorial interference were few. Initially hostile to the current White House, Bezos made recent overtures to mend fences, possibly to avert crackdowns which might affect Amazon.
More than 3,500 local U.S. newspapers in the U.S. have been shuttered since 2005, but the Post seemed special and somehow indomitable, something of a national resource. February staff cutbacks of 400 will affect the books section, and sports, editing, Metro, with bureau chiefs in the Middle East, New Delhi, and Ukraine getting pink slips. More to come.
The February 5 gathering was muted in tone, marking community solidarity. Bright sun overcame the chill for an hour. Knowing glances among strangers linked them to recently discharged employees. For the latter, the message was mainly thanks.Photos: Dan Whitman
Dan Whitman is a former United States Foreign Service Officer. He was posted in Denmark, Spain, South Africa, Haiti, and Cameroon. He also briefly served in Ghana, Guinea, and Nigeria, South Sudan, Mauritius, Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, and Congo-Brazzaville.