Rolling Stone Cover Sparks Outrage

Originally published in The Daily Shift.

Rolling Stones magazine controversial decision to put Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the men accused, of planting bombs in the Boston Marathon on April 15^th has sparked widespread outrage over the internet.

The cover photo is one that Tsarnaev apparently posted online and has been used by other media outlets in the past. However, many were unimpressed with this picture gracing a Rolling Stone cover, a space usually reserved for celebrities and rock stars. The Rolling Stones Facebook page has been exploding with disapproving comments receiving more than 4,700 comments by Wednesday afternoon. "What a slap in the face to the great city of Boston and the Marathon Bombing victims," commented Lindsey Williamson.

"Oh look, Rolling Stone magazine is glamorizing terrorism. Awesome," Adrienne Graham commented "I will NOT be buying this issue, or any future issues,"

Boston punk band Dropkick Murphys who have recently donated 300,000 dollars to 60 victims of the April bombing were among those to comment on the magazine’s distasteful choice "Rolling Stone you should be ashamed," the band tweeted.

"How about one of the courageous victims on your cover instead of this loser scum bag!"

The photo shows a goatee-d, scraggy haired Tsarnaev staring straight at the camera. The text reads “The Bomber. How a popular, promising student was failed by his family, fell into radical Islam and became a monster.”

The magazine says the article itself is a deeply-researched account of the suspect. Rolling Stone claims the story showcases “a riveting and heartbreaking account of how a charming kid with a bright future became a monster”. Within the magazine’s two month investigation it unearthed the fact that Tamerlan once confided to his mother that he felt like “two people” were inside of him. The article also discovered that Dzokhar once let slip to a friend that the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks could be justified because of U.S. policies toward Muslim countries.

Authorities accuse brothers Tamerlan and Dzokhar Tsarnaev of setting off two bombs merely seconds apart near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street on April 15^th, a street crowded with spectators and participants, all innocent bystanders. Three people were killed and more than 260 people were injured. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed four days later in a shootout with police.

Younger brother Dzhokhar was captured and charged with 30 federal counts stemming from the attack.

Dzokhar, who could face the death penalty if convicted, pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges in his first courtroom appearance earlier this week.

The magazine hits stand on August 3^rd.