George Floyd protests: New York Times staff revolt over Republican senator’s opinion piece urging Trump to ‘send troops in’

Tom Cotton claimed deploying troops to streets would be popular move even though it ‘may not appear often in chic salons’

The New York Times is fighting a furious backlash against its publication of an op-ed by Republican senator Tom Cotton calling for troops to be deployed on American streets to crush protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.

The newspaper's own journalists are among the most vocal critics of the article, published on Wednesday under the headline “Send In the Troops”, in which Mr Cotton claimed that rioting and violence that has erupted in American cities over the past week is “nothing to do with" Floyd's death. He called for “an overwhelming show of force” by the US army to restore order.

The protests, sparked by video showing Floyd gasping for air and dying as an officer knelt on his neck, have already seen multiple incidents of police brutality.

Numerous Times employees denounced Mr Cotton's piece on Twitter and said "running this puts black people in danger". Many said the paper's own black staff would be at increased risk as a result of the article. “And other Americans standing up for our humanity and democracy, too," wrote Mara Gay, a member of Times's editorial board.

Hong Kong-based Tiffany May, who covers China and Asia for the paper, pointed out resonance with the massacre of protesters in Tiananmen Square. She wrote: “Beijing sent in the troops on June 4, 1989. Student activists who died in the crackdown have been mourned every year in Hong Kong for the past three decades. Running this op-ed puts the lives of black people, including black @nytimes employees, in danger.”

The union which represents Times staff issued a statement saying it was "deeply concerned" with the article's "lack of context, inadequate vetting by editorial management, spread of misinformation, and the timing of its call to arms", which it warned "gravely undermine the work we do every day". The News Guild of New York, which has also written to Times management to express its views, added: "Though we understand the Op-Ed desk's responsibility to publish a diverse array of opinions, we find the publication of this essay to be an irresponsible choice."

Times James Bennet responded to the backlash with a thread explaining the decision to publish Mr Cotton’s piece.

He said the newspaper has long defended the protests, criticised the use of force and “crusaded for years” against “the underlying, systemic cruelties” that have led to the uprisings, he wrote that “as part of our explorations of these issues, Times Opinion has published powerful arguments supporting protests, advocating fundamental change and criticising police abuses.

“Times Opinion owes it to our readers to show them counter-arguments, particularly those made by people in a position to set policy.

“We understand that many readers find Senator Cotton’s argument painful, even dangerous. We believe that is one reason it requires public scrutiny and debate.”

However, staffers were not swayed. After Mr Bennet’s thread was published, Taffy Brodesser-Akner of the New York Times Magazine tweeted: “Tonight, I understand the people who treat me like I work at a tobacco company. I stand with my colleagues.

“Finally: Running this puts Black people, including Black @nytimes staff, in danger.”