Mayoral candidate Manuel Medina, supporters blast San Antonio Express-News over residence claims

San Antonio mayoral candidate Manuel Medina, center, speaks to a crowd protesting in front of the San Antonio Express-News, Monday, April 3, 2017. The group, organized by Medina, was protesting a recent column by Brian Chasnoff. Medina, who was born in Mexico, claims he has lived in the U.S. since he was a child. ChasnoffÕs column questions the claim. According to Medina, his family emigrated from Mexico when he was three-years-old. less San Antonio mayoral candidate Manuel Medina, center, speaks to a crowd protesting in front of the San Antonio Express-News, Monday, April 3, 2017. The group, organized by Medina, was protesting a recent column ... more Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close Mayoral candidate Manuel Medina, supporters blast San Antonio Express-News over residence claims 1 / 26 Back to Gallery

Cries of "fake news" echoed across the front entrance of the San Antonio Express-News building Monday afternoon as the sun beat down on mayoral candidate Manuel Medina, who gathered a group of supporters to protest a recent Express-News column.

The opinion column, written by Brian Chasnoff, outlined Medina's residence record, specifically a period of 11 years during which he was employed in Mexico. At the Express-News Monday, Medina called the piece a "hit job," saying he'd lived in the U.S. since immigrating at the age of 3.

Roughly 40 protesters cheered the mayoral candidate and said Chasnoff "has to go."

Chasnoff's column, published March 29, also detailed Medina's run for office in Mexico in 2005. When Chasnoff asked Medina at the protest what was inaccurate in the column, the mayoral candidate refused to answer.

Video: Candidates answer questions at mayoral forum

READ THE FULL COLUMN HERE: Medina worked, ran for office in Mexico

According to records, Medina worked at a university in Torreón, in the northern Mexico state of Coahuila, from 1997 to 2008; ran for public office in Torreón in 2005; and divorced and remarried in Torreón in 2006.

Medina refused to answer questions posed by Express-News reporters at the scene.

"Brian Chasnoff is trying to score political points," Medina said to cheers, adding he was attempting to prop up other candidates.

Mayoral candidate Ron Nirenberg is quoted in Chasnoff's column, saying Medina "can't be trusted on his biography let alone his wild promises." Mayor Ivy Taylor did not respond to Chasnoff's request for comment.

Medina seeks to oust Taylor, along with District 8 Councilman Nirenberg in next's month municipal election. There are a total of 14 mayoral candidates on the May 6 ballot.

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"My column was about Manuel's truthfulness to the voters and that's all," Chasnoff said, adding that reaching out to all candidates is "standard journalism."

Protesters threatened to cancel their Express-News subscriptions and one called Chasnoff a "white racist."

"For Brian Chasnoff to imply that this is not my home," is ignorant and xenophobic, Medina said, adding the writer "insulted every single naturalized citizen in the country."

Express-News Editor-in-Chief Mike Leary said: "We stand by not only our columnists, but our columns. They're 100 percent accurate and documented."

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5