Supporters of President Trump rallied in DC to protest the election results. Most outlets called the day’s events peaceful while noting violence spread after sundown. How did each side characterize the violence?
Summary
Thousands of supporters of President Trump rallied in the streets of Washington, DC Saturday under a variety of rally banners, from “Stop The Steal” in reference to allegations of voter fraud, to simple support for President Trump in a “Million MAGA March.”
- The BBC noted the pro-Trump rallies throughout the day were “largely peaceful” and only became violent in the evening as “counter-protestors” appeared.
- USA Today, like most mainstream outlets, focused the bulk of their coverage on the clashes between pro-trump and anti-trump protestors. It did take the time to note many pro-Trump supporters were not wearing face masks. Similar coverage of Pro-Biden gatherings a week ago did not produce the same concern for the spread of coronavirus.
- NBC News reported President Trump’s close watch of the rally and subsequent conflicts between the opposing groups.
- The rally in DC was duplicated in cities around the country.
- At least one incident of Trump supporters being surrounded and having fireworks thrown at them while dining in Washington was reported.
- At least 20 people were arrested and two police officers were injured.
- The Washington Post characterized participants of Saturday’s gatherings by describing pro-Trump attendees as “far-right protestors” while using the phrase “counterdemonstrators” to describe those who threw fireworks and assaulted pro-Trump protestors.
- Thousands of pro-Trump demonstrators from across the country gathered, while The New York Times reported on a group of “more than 40” so-called members of the “Proud Boys” wearing bulletproof vests while calling those who flung bottles and other projectiles at supporters of Donald Trump “counterprotestors.”
- CNN focused its coverage on purposely blurring the lines between the mainstream conservative movement and groups that are on the far-right but have not gained wide acceptance among conservatives.
- The Wall Street Journal’s rundown of the day’s events noted the support from all corners of the country for President Trump while noting none of the allegations of fraudulent election activities have yet been proven.
- Breitbart and Daily Caller focused their coverage on the violence perpetrated on Trump supporters.
- Fox News noted the “largely peaceful” events during daylight, while highlighting the reaction from President Trump to reports of attacks against his supporters in the evening.
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© Dallas Gerber, 2020
