Isla Vista residents on Monday protest the constant presence of TV news crews in the wake of Friday's mass murder
Paul Wellman

In front of the memorial that has grown for Chris Michaels-Martinez on Pardall Road, students have raised signs that read “Stop Filming Our Tears,” “News Crew Go Home,” and “Our Tragedy Is Not Your Commodity” to protest the constant presence of TV news crews, cameras, and vans in Isla Vista. Starting about 3:30 p.m., four protesters arrived with seven-foot signs, and the protest has doubled since then, as reporters get ready for their latest evening broadcast about the seven killed Friday night.

FED UP: Isla Vistans tell news crews to leave them alone.
Paul Wellman

Initially, a number of TV crews left the site when the protesters arrived, and the remaining reporters explained they were just doing their jobs and that they wanted to show the memorial. The residents replied that the news organizations were making money from their pain and that they wanted them to leave. The broadcasters ended up making their reports standing with the protest as a backdrop.

Some bystanders commented that the protesters and their huge signs were bringing more media attention to the site but that they agreed with the sentiments expressed. Broadcast news vans and crews have been highly visible in Isla Vista all weekend.

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