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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A YouTube video created and released by Johnson City staff and showing nearly six minutes of fights and shooting incidents in downtown Johnson City has been removed by YouTube for violating the company’s policy on violent or graphic content.
A link to the video was included in the July issue of the city’s “Know. All. Out.” newsletter, which city officials told News Channel 11 has 508 subscribers. It was part of an article explaining the city’s intention to change “last call” at downtown bars from 3 a.m. to 1 a.m. — something that was enabled when the state legislature passed a private act in April allowing an exception to the state law that sets 3 a.m. as the last call time.
The article referenced a problem with violent crime, weapons and drug-related crimes and DUIs in the downtown area between the hours of 1 and 4 a.m.
“Some of these incidents were captured on video and may be viewed below,” the newsletter reads just above a link to the video with a warning that “Viewer discretion is advised.” The video is a compilation of cell phone, surveillance, and police body camera footage of fights and shootings.
As of Friday morning, clicking the link to YouTube brings up a black screen with a message in white text that the video’s been removed for violating YouTube’s policy and a “Learn more” link.
Clicking that link leads to YouTube’s page on its violent or graphic content policies. Those policies instruct YouTube channel owners not to post if content fits any of a list of descriptions. Included are fights involving minors and footage involving, among other things, “street fights (and) physical attacks … with the intent to shock or disgust viewers.”
News Channel 11 has reached out to the city with questions on the removal, the initial decision to post the video on YouTube given its content, and whether it plans to post the video via some other format.