A recent study conducted by the Media Research Center reveals that CNN and MSNBC seem to consistently portray the ongoing protests and unrest as “almost peaceful,” despite the underlying chaos and anxiety.
In Los Angeles, where anti-ICE sentiments have erupted, incidents of violent looting and mass arrests are becoming commonplace. Video clips depicting aggressive protests are circulating widely online, while some businesses have opted to close their stores due to escalating tensions.
New York City also witnessed clashes between anti-ICE demonstrators and police. On Wednesday, police vehicles were seen ablaze in a parking area, emphasizing the volatility of the situation.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, a large group of protesters congregated on Tuesday night, with some vehicles reportedly crashing through the crowds, resulting in considerable damage to police property.
The protests, particularly in major cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, are being echoed in numerous other locations, including Washington, North Carolina, Missouri, Texas, Indiana, and Georgia, among others. Despite this, CNN and MSNBC maintain their narrative of these protests being “almost peaceful.”
The Media Research Center’s analysis of coverage from June 7-11 discovered an astonishing 211 instances of CNN and MSNBC personalities referring to these protests as “largely peaceful” or similar phrases. Specifically, CNN accounted for 123 of these claims, while MSNBC made 88 mentions.
Bill Agostino, a senior research analyst at Newsbusters who oversaw the MRC study, pointed out the media’s tendency to disconnect violent actions from the broader crowds by attributing them to separate, unrelated groups.
Agostino highlighted that, throughout the coverage, whenever violence occurred, it was characterized as being associated with “illegal actors” or “lone wolves,” rather than addressing the mixed nature of the crowds.
He went on to note, “None of the reporters made the connection between the peaceful and violent factions present. The focus was solely on the so-called ‘peaceful protesters’.” There seems to be a failure to recognize that law enforcement has had to deploy the National Guard and Marines specifically to manage the violent elements within the protests.
Interestingly, the study found only one instance of CNN or MSNBC journalists labeling the chaos in Los Angeles as “riots.”
