Atlanta, GA – CNN has been ridiculed on social media for a graphic it put up about “mostly peaceful” protests on Tuesday while a reporter stood in front of burning buildings and cars.
CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez was reporting live in Kenosha, Wisconsin during rioting over the shooting of Jacob Blake, according to Fox News.
While Jimenez stood in front of burning buildings and cars, CNN put up a graphic that read, “FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL PROTESTS AFTER POLICE SHOOTING.”
Conservatives lambasted CNN for the graphic, Fox News reported.
“‘Fiery but mostly peaceful protest’ is so absurd that if it were satire you’d think it was lazy and unimaginative,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee senior adviser Matt Whitlock on Twitter.
“The phrase ‘beyond parody’ doesn’t begin to describe this,” tweeted Matt Walsh, a conservative commentator.
Steve Guest of the Republican National Committee made a comparison between CNN and MSNBC on Twitter.
Guest compared the graphic to MSNBC’s Ali Velshi making a comment in May over the George Floyd protests.
Guest tweeted, “Back in May, Velshi said, ‘I want to be clear on how I characterize this. This is mostly a protest. It is not generally speaking unruly but fires have been started.’”
Fox News reported it is not the first time CNN has tried to play down violence in anti-police protests in Wisconsin.
Fox News reported that Grabien Media founder Tom Elliott found the word “violent” was removed from CNN graphics that were originally posted.
CNN’s graphic stated, “8PM CURFEW ORDERED AFTER VIOLENT PROTESTS OVER POLICE SHOOTING OF UNARMED BLACK MAN IN WISCONSIN.”
But that message was changed about five seconds later and the word “violent” was removed, according to Fox News.
The graphic was also inaccurate because Blake was in possession of a knife, according to officials.
There were multiple reports of car dealerships being set on fire as well as other businesses during the protests in Wisconsin, according to Fox News