Savanah Hernandez, a field reporter for Turning Point USA’s Frontlines and a contributor to the organization, faced racist remarks while reporting at an anti-Trump protest in New York City. During the event, she was targeted with racial comments from a predominantly older white crowd, with a protester accusing her of being a ‘token’ and labeling Turning Point USA as ‘fascist’. Hernandez, who has been covering protests like this one for several years, described the experience as something she is accustomed to hearing from the left. She explained that she is not afraid of these people and will continue her work, as she believes it is essential to tell the truth.
Hernandez, who has been covering on the ground protests, riots, and the illegal immigration crisis for the last six or seven years, said that she has never feared ICE or the police because she follows the law, just like other law-abiding citizens who have no reason to be afraid of law enforcement. However, she often hears people tell her that she’ll be deported, that she’s just a token, or that she wants to be White. She added that she isn’t a fan of the labels.
“I don’t even like the label of I’m a Hispanic Asian woman myself. Like I said, I brought that up to this individual because he himself thinks that Charlie is some White supremacist racist, and to give him a real world example, you know, I’m a living one,” Hernandez said. She pointed out the demographics she witnessed at the NYC protest, noting that it was primarily older and whiter, which is very interesting.
“And it usually is these people who are the most outspoken. We are seeing a lot of the older generation really come out to these protests specifically,” she said. Hernandez said that she is “not afraid” and will continue to do her work. “I’m not afraid of these people. I think they are very radicalized, but I also think that we need people that are willing to go in the street and tell the truth. So you know, whatever happens, so be it,” she said.
The incident comes at a time of increased nationwide demonstrations, including those involving anti-ICE protesters who invaded Trump Tower. The Associated Press reported that police swiftly removed the anti-ICE protesters. Additionally, the American trust in media reached a record low according to a new Gallup poll.
Hernandez’s experience is not isolated. A previous incident involving an Illinois state teaching assistant who was fired after trying to flip a TPUSA table twice also went viral. These events highlight the growing tensions and polarization in public discourse, particularly regarding media credibility and political affiliations.