MSNBC, CNN pundits reported that LA anti-ICE demonstrations were ‘peaceful’ 211 times in 48 amid riots
When President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to LA in order to quell the riots some on CNN and MSNBC complained about him using military force against “peaceful protesters.”
CNN and MSNBC pundits reported over the course of 48 hours that the anti-ICE unrest that included riots happening in Los Angeles was “peaceful” over 200 different times, according to an analysis from the Media Research Center (MRC).
According to the MRC, in the hours 5am-11:59 pm from June 7 to June 11, there were 211 different instances of news reporters, anchors, guests, or others on screen calling the events playing out in LA, “peaceful” or something similar.
Both CNN as well as MSNBC invited several Democratic officials from California, who also used the platform to describe the riots as “mostly peaceful” as there were people looting stores, burning cars, and assaulting police officers.
In the comments, some pundits framed the violence going on as being due to “rogue actors” or being “isolated” from the rest of the anti-ICE unrest. CNN’s Brian Stelter, for example, said on the network, “The intention, it seems, is to lump in violent rioters and peaceful protestors.”
Additionally, when President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to LA in order to quell the riots some on CNN and MSNBC complained about him using military force against “peaceful protesters.”
“Donald Trump can try to turn the military into a partisan tool, mobilizing the National Guard and even the Marines against peaceful protestors,” Chris Hayes said on June 11 on MSNBC.
In a similar vein, Nicolle Wallace, on June 11 said on the network, “Donald Trump referred to those peaceful protestors exercising their First Amendment rights as insurrectionists.”
MRC reported, “For this study, we included any assertion by a host, nonpartisan guest, or reporter that the riots or protests in Los Angeles were “peaceful,” “mostly peaceful,” “largely peaceful,” or any other similar descriptor, as long as the assertion occurred during a segment in which violence either had been acknowledged or was shown on-screen.”