We’ve been hit with rubber bullets and tear gas, and Bee journalists are thankful — for you
Sacramento’s attention is rightly focused on police brutality across the country, racism and inequality, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the millions of people laid off or furloughed because of the economic shutdown.
As these stories unfold, I’d like to thank Sacramento for its support of the local journalists who are covering these crises for you at The Bee. The historic events in 2020 are interconnected and require focused, detailed and nuanced reporting from deep within our community.
Our team of experienced journalists is committed to revealing the truth and elevating perspectives that have not been heard. We are there with you — reporting, interviewing, fact-checking, livestreaming, photographing and videoing the remarkable events unfolding.
In the last week, Bee journalists have been hit with rubber bullets and mugged in downtown Sacramento. We’ve suffered broken bones and our equipment has been shattered and stolen. And we are resilient, heading back out the next day to survey the damage and speak with protesters about what’s important to them.
We’ve been on coronavirus and protests every day of the week and following the story all hours of the day and night because of you. We’re able to replace cameras and pioneer new livestreaming techniques because of you.
We’re partnering with local businesses to highlight reopenings and black-owned restaurants because of you. We’ve also connected our readers with diverse voices in the community and intimately covered the peaceful protests. We looked at the police response both to the protests and the vandalism that followed.
This week, we welcomed two new Report For America journalists and 10 paid interns to The Bee. Ashley Wong is covering Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and Kim Bojórquez is covering Latino issues in our Capitol Bureau. Both reported from protests in downtown Sacramento after less than 48 hours on the job.
Our ability to tell these important stories is directly tied to your support. If you would like to help fund Report for America corps members placed with The Bee, you can make a contribution at FundJournalism.org.
More than 1,500 readers donated to support Bee journalists via a partnership with the Local Media Association, which enabled tax-deductible contributions to ensure uninterrupted coverage of coronavirus. You helped us stay on the job as newspapers across the country struggle with COVID-related advertising losses. When we closed the campaign on June 1, two-thirds of donors were subscribers. We thank you sincerely for your additional support.
Here are a few of the comments you shared with us when you donated:
Where would we be without you shining a light on our government? — Patty and John C.
Supporting local journalism is our best insurance of truth in information. — George J
Even though I live in another state, I read The Bee faithfully online. It’s become an essential source of information about the political, social and environmental events that affect the lives of my family members in Northern California. — NorCal News Junkie
The generosity of this community is overwhelming. You have given to us, and you have also supported each other. By volunteering for food deliveries. Providing water and masks for protesters. By donating blood and serving as essential workers. By cleaning up glass downtown following difficult nights for our city last weekend.
We take your commitment to heart. We will continue to report on how we emerge from these crises equitably, emotionally and economically. We are challenged. But we will get to a better place. By sharing the stories that need to be told. And by doing the work that must be done, by building community.
Thank you for helping us share those stories, today and tomorrow. We are resilient, and we can do this together.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 5:00 AM.