Oregon state Representative Janelle Bynum, a Democrat running for reelection, has come under fire from Republicans for using stock footage from overseas in her recent campaign ad focused on police reform. The ad features footage of police officers in riot gear and Bynum speaking out against police violence and racism.
However, Republicans are accusing Bynum of being disingenuous and misleading voters by using stock footage from overseas to depict US police officers. The footage in question was reportedly purchased from a stock video website based in the United Kingdom.
The criticism of Bynum’s ad comes at a time when police reform and racial justice continue to be prominent issues in the United States, with protests and calls for change following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement.
Bynum has defended the use of the stock footage, stating that the focus should be on the message of her ad rather than where the footage was sourced. She has emphasized that her goal is to advocate for police reform and address systemic racism within law enforcement.
While the use of overseas stock footage may be seen as a misstep by Bynum, it remains to be seen how much of an impact it will have on her reelection campaign. With Republicans seizing on this controversy, Bynum will need to work to regain trust from voters and ensure that her messaging aligns with her actions moving forward.
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