As much as what the media doesn’t cover, their power lies in how they spin subjects that matter to them.
U.S. Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis’ story is a good example. Alkonis has spent more than a decade in Japanese prisons and was given a sentence to stay for three more.
In a fatal car accident, Lt. Alkonis was found negligently and asleep driving. Many sources indicate that the accident occurred as a result a medical emergency. He had reportedly been suffering acute mountain sickness, which led to him losing consciousness behind the wheel.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) spoke out about the situation late last month, asserting that Alkonis was being “targeted here because he’s an American.” Similarly, Rep. Mike Levin (R-CA) stated that “the Japanese government violated the status of forces agreement, which governs the treatment of our service members there.”
Alkonis’s release was supported by a large group of people who gathered behind the White House on August 18. A number of his family members and friends addressed the crowd, calling for an end to Alkonis’s imprisonment. Trevor Reed was one of them.
Reed had been held in Russia previously for 985 days. President Joe Biden then exchanged the prisoners at July’s end. “The United States government, the DOD and the White House have a responsibility to get him (Alkonis) out,” he urged. Reed argued that, as Japan is an allied country, there doesn’t need to be a prisoner exchange in order to get Alkonis back. Reed insisted that it be done “immediately,” according to NowThisNews’ livestream.
Alkonis’s wife Brittany traveled to D.C. to with the couple’s children. She said that her husband dedicated his life to his country as a member of the Navy but feels “abandoned” by America.
She pledged not to leave the White House until she was invited there to talk about a plan for her husband’s recovery.
While Alkonis’ story remains in the shadows, legacy media has spent countless minutes garnering support for Brittany Griner who is similarly being held in a Russian prison.
Russian authorities detained Griner back in February on drug-smuggling charges. Her conviction included nine years imprisonment for trying to board an airplane with marijuana vape cartridges inside her bag.
Griner pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis but numerous figures have deemed her imprisonment wrong.
Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted Aug. 4 that Griner “should be released immediately.” Unironically, Harris was admittedly against the legalization of marijuana when she served as San Francisco DA. Now however, Harris has dismissed Griner’s activity.
Similarly, MSNBC blamed America for Griner’s imprisonment deeming her decision to break Russian law as a result of unequal NBA/WNBA pay.
Griner is being held in Russian detention while the left tries to free him. Alkonis is violating the agreement on status of forces with an ally. This isn’t a matter of one crime vs the other, it’s a matter of advocating for the freedom of a progressive celebrity who admitted to breaking the law over a man who was serving his country when involved in a tragic accident.
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