'Mostly peaceful' protests: Progressive media again downplays riots

The anti-ICE riots that began last week in Los Angeles have multiplied nationwide. For days the protesters, many of them illegal immigrants waving the Mexican flag, attacked police and vandalized cities such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Austin and Philadelphia.

The progressive media and various Democratic representatives have once again become apologists for the vandals, downplaying the severity of the protests, just as they did five years ago during the violent Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations following the death of George Floyd.

The Media Research Center (MRC) analyzed all coverage from June 7-11 and found 211 examples of CNN and MSNBC insisting the anti-ICE demonstrations this past week were "largely peaceful," "mostly peaceful" or something similar.

CNN was responsible for 123 claims that the riots were "peaceful," while MSNBC reminded viewers 88 times, according to the MRC.

Progressive media downplays left-wing radicals

Brian Stelter of CNN declared Sunday that the Los Angeles riots were "isolated" and urged viewers to be wary of content circulating on social media.

"The riots are isolated. They have not spread to the entire city of Los Angeles. L.A. is home to millions of people, most of whom are having a normal day," the reporter said.

"AS L.A. PROTESTS EXPAND, SO DOES MISINFORMATION," read the on-screen graphic.

Likewise, on Wednesday, Stelter asserted on X: "Offline, in real-world Los Angeles, most Angelenos are having a perfectly normal day. But online, the fires and riots are still raging. Seeking clicks, clout and chaos, unvetted social media accounts are preying on fears about where last weekend’s clashes will lead."

As for MSNBC, the MRC cites some examples of its journalists trying to justify the protesters:

Another example is ABC7 journalist Jory Rand, who, according to a report by Fox News, said on television Sunday that law enforcement had better not intervene so as not to aggravate the unrest.

According to Rand, the demonstration was "just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn."

ABC7 correspondent Tim Caputo, who was reporting live from the scene, said:

"I don’t know that I would characterize it [as a riot]," he said. "The vast majority are people taking videos, people waving flags, people walking around, people wanting to be part of the cause, wanting to have their voices heard, and wanting to show the power of numbers and the power of force…[but]you have these pockets of people who are intentionally causing some issues."

For its part, The New Yorker published a political cartoon Tuesday showing the National Guard assembled in front of the iconic Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, with one telling another, "The protesters seem to be doing some sort of joyful synchronized dance. Is it time to call in the Marines?"

Yesterday authorities made over three dozen arrests in Los Angeles, according to the LAPD.

Approximately 200 active-duty Marines will protect federal property and personnel in L.A. this weekend amid protests in the area, according to Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman.