Media Research Center (MRC) has conducted an in-depth analysis of reporting by CNN and MSNBC, revealing a consistent narrative framing anti-ICE demonstrations and related riots as ‘mostly peaceful’ despite growing unrest across multiple U.S. cities. The analysis, spanning coverage from June 7-11, found 211 instances where these networks’ personalities insisted the demonstrations were largely peaceful, despite escalating violence and law enforcement responses.
CNN, in particular, was responsible for 123 of these claims, while MSNBC issued 88. The study, conducted by MRC’s NewsBusters senior research analyst Bill D’Aguostino, highlights how reporters often attributed violence to ‘rogue actors’ or ‘lone wolves’ without linking it to the broader protests. This has led to criticism over the media’s portrayal of the situation, with many arguing that the use of military force against peaceful demonstrators, including the deployment of the National Guard, was not adequately acknowledged.
Los Angeles, the epicenter of the unrest, has seen continued disorder, with businesses boarding up their shops and widespread looting reported. In New York and Chicago, anti-ICE protesters have clashed with police, leading to vehicle fires and vandalism. These incidents have sparked calls for the deployment of the National Guard, with Border Czar Tom Homan confirming plans for its use in Los Angeles County.
D’Aguostino noted that the media’s persistent framing of the protests as peaceful has overshadowed the violence, with no reporters acknowledging the role of military force in quelling the unrest. Only one instance where a CNN journalist labeled the chaos in Los Angeles as a ‘riot’ was found, further highlighting the disparity in media coverage. This has sparked debates about the accuracy of journalistic reporting and its influence on public perception of the ongoing events.