The families of missing people of color say media coverage favors the stories of missing White women – CNN

(CNN)David Robinson has been in Arizona for the last three months searching for his 24-year-old son, Daniel Robinson, who went missing after leaving a work site in the desert in his Jeep Renegade on June 23.

Robinson, who lives in South Carolina, hired an independent investigator and assembled a volunteer search team when he says he felt the police weren’t making progress in the investigation. He also says he failed to get the amount of media coverage he believed the case needed. The case was reported by the local media as early as July 9.
Robinson said he sympathizes with the family of Gabby Petito, whose remains were recovered Sunday after she disappeared while exploring parks in Wyoming prompting a highly publicized search.

Still, Robinson said it’s “hurtful” to see a young White woman’s case met with more urgency and national attention than his son, who is Black.

“You wish you lived in a world where everything was equal but it’s really not equal,” Robinson told CNN.

Robinson is among the Black and brown families whose loved ones remain missing and say they have struggled to get fair attention on their cases. Some say they have grown frustrated with watching the search for missing White women like Petito being in the spotlight, while police appear to allow their cases to go cold or classify their loved one as a “runaway.”

Source: The families of missing people of color say media coverage favors the stories of missing White women – CNN

Hundreds of firefighters battle massive flames in Phoenix – YouTube

June 6, 2021

Hundreds of firefighters are working to make sure a massive fire doesn’t spread to more businesses near downtown Phoenix.

Phoenix fire officials say a sixth alarm fire at a recycling yard near 35th Avenue and Buckeye prompted the largest response in the department’s history on June 5.

“I can’t remember the last time we had a sixth alarm,” said Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller. “We’ve had a couple two, three alarms in the last couple of months, but this is a big one.”

 

The fire was originally a first alarm early Saturday afternoon, but it quickly escalated. According to Phoenix Fire officials, the fire started at around 12:30 p.m.

By the time firefighters arrived, Officials say they found multiple pallets of cardboard and paper on fire.

 

“Went out to get the mail and we just pretty much saw, like, a cloud of smoke,” said Cindy Ramirez.

“I could see it from miles away out my window, and I’m like ‘I better go check that out,’” said Jason Feder.

Residents say that the smoke can be seen from as far as Mesa and Ahwatukee. Meanwhile, fire officials say 150 residential and commercial customers were without power for about 10 hours. The smoke plume from the fire was so large, it even showed up on National Weather Service radar.

At one point, fire officials say the fire jumped 35th Avenue, causing multiple cars at a small junk yard to catch fire.

Phoenix Fire officials say 35th Avenue will be closed until further notice from Buckeye to Van Buren. Officials also say over 200 firefighters and 10 different agencies were involved in firefighting efforts. One of the firefighters suffered a leg injury, and is now in the hospital in stable condition.

Besides the massive blaze, firefighters also had to deal with 108°F temperatures.

“We have to layer our resources. we keep upgrading assignments so we can recycle our crews. Our firefighters train for situations like this. This is not their first time in the summer,” said Cpt. Keller.

Fire officials say multiple businesses adjacent to the recycling yard were lost, including a recycling center, a lumbar company, and a tire shop.

By 7:12 p.m. on Saturday, Phoenix Fire officials say crews will remain on scene throughout the night to extinguish remaining hotspots.

Source: https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/massive-recycling-yard-fire-in-west-phoenix-prompts-largest-response-in-fire-departments-history

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