CNN was ridiculed for a video caption Wednesday night that read “Fiery But Mostly Peaceful Protests After Police Shooting” during a report from national correspondent Omar Jimenez in front of a building engulfed in flames during protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.
Jimenez reported that the daylight protests “were largely peaceful,” but the situation quickly changed at night.
“What you are seeing now, these images, came and come in stark contrast to what we saw over the course of the daytime hours in Kenosha and into the early evening, which were largely peaceful demonstrations in the face of law enforcement,” Jimenez said.
“It wasn’t until nightfall that things began to get a little bit more contentious. Thing were thrown back and forth; police started using some of those crowd dispersal tactics like tear gas, even playing very loud sounds to push them out,” he continued. “And then, what you’re seeing, the common theme that ties all of this together, is an expression of anger and frustration over what people feel like has become an all too familiar story playing out in places from across the country, not just here in Kenosha, Wis.”
Ridicule quickly followed on social media, including from Eric Trump and GOP rapid response director Steve Guest.
Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide after allegedly shooting and killing two people and injuring a third during a protest in Kenosha Tuesday night over Blake’s shooting.
Vice President Pence, meanwhile, condemned violent protests in American cities, including Kenosha, during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night.
“Let me be clear: the violence must stop — whether in Minneapolis, Portland or Kenosha. Too many heroes have died defending our freedoms to see Americans strike each other down,” Pence said to applause at Fort McHenry.
Pence also said he supported the right to peacefully protest, but added: “We will have law and order on the streets of America for every American of every race and creed and color.”