Ecuador Crosses a Line

“First, a man with a pistol appeared in the middle of the public TV station’s live transmission, followed by a second man with a shotgun, then a third and more. With the show’s “After the News” title behind them, station employees were brought onto the set and ordered to lie down. Screams could be heard followed by the sound of gunshots. ‘We are on air, so you know that you cannot play with the mafia,’ one of the assailants is heard saying.” Sadly, this episode is indicative of an even bigger, and growing, problem. Ecuador’s escalating gang violence is broadcast live to the nation as masked gunmen storm TV studio.