Fox's Vittert, crew chased by demonstrators at DC protest

[left-of-center2012]

Fox News anchor Leland Vittert and his crew were followed by protesters while covering a demonstration outside the White House on Friday night.

"Imagine what it's like to be a black man, feeling like this every f---ing day,” a woman screamed at Vittert as he and his crew attempted to leave what appeared to be an escalating situation.

One of two of Vittert's security staffers was punched in the face and knocked to the ground as the team hurriedly exited the park.

The journalist said when they found a police car approximately two blocks away, they pounded on the window frantically but the officer refused to get out of the car while appearing to radio for help. "We were very clearly on our own, and in that situation, you just don't know how things are going to play out," Vittert said.

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/500262-foxs-vittert-crew-followed-by-demonstrators-at-dc-protest

[DeminPennswoods]

1. Karma

nt

[Qutzupalotl]

2. Tapper doesn't like it.

Last edited Sat May 30, 2020, 01:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Link to tweet

I have to say, I agree. Fox sucks, but this is not the way.

[dixiechiken1]

3. I understand what you're saying...

But no one put a knee on their necks and killed them. They got screamed at and had some water thrown on them. Little enough, IMO, considering the hatred, racism and vitriol they spew EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. They contributed to this. They own it.

FUCK 'EM.

[Qutzupalotl]

4. I hear you, but my concern is

that this gives license to the other side to do the same to legitimate news outfits. Then we’d be truly fucked.

[dixiechiken1]

7. My head tells me you're right.

I saw a video of the COVIDiots doing this kind of thing to CNN at one of the "reopen rallies", screaming "FAKE NEWS" and "ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE" at them. CNN reporter(s) didn't have bodyguards and didn't run away, though. They kept trying to talk to people and ask questions. So yeah, I didn't like that and I didn't think it was right. BUT...

My heart still says FUCK 'EM.

Ya gotta admit that this was more than a little bit delicious, don'tcha? And that it's about time we get some karma payback?

[Qutzupalotl]

18. I'm all for seeing karma in action, I just think this went a little too far.

If they had chanted “Fuck Fox News!” and let that be enough, Fox wouldn’t be able to broadcast the footage without running afoul of the FCC. That seems like a sufficient protest, and it endangers nobody.

I draw the line at pushing, throwing things at people, and destroying property. Making the reporters run ... just imagine if an angry crowd did that to a reporter you like.

I’m torn too. Fox sucks, OANN is even worse, but things that even look like violence tend to be more counterproductive than helpful.

All that said, it certainly could have been a lot worse. It looks like no one was seriously hurt. But it was still a little to assault-y for me.

[dixiechiken1]

19. Naaah...

I'm still going with FUCK 'EM.

They've been stoking the racist fire for decades. People are pissed off and they've had enough. These people don't understand civility. They have poked the bear and now the bear is awake. And YUGELY PISSED. They are reaping the hatred they have sown, lo these many years.

Good. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of assholes.

[Qutzupalotl]

25. That's the thing about karma,

what goes around comes around. If we choose to escalate, we are more likely to receive escalation in return. And then we will have deserved it. I’d rather see us not deserve a reciprocal escalation. That way, if we receive violence, we garner sympathy from the public rather than a “fuck em.” That’s how you win the majority of hearts and minds, and win the war if not every battle.

We could use a leader like MLK about now, but I don’t see one coming. Maybe it’s up to us.

[dixiechiken1]

28. MLK said...

“In the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear?”

The Fox News guys were yelled at and had water thrown on them. They didn't have fire hoses turned on them - it was a cup of water. And the yelling? Well, it appears that they finally heard... something. At least these particular Fox News guys did. And they felt fear. The same fear that minorities in this country feel every day. Every. Day.

We cannot tolerate intolerance. And if it takes a little yelling to get the point across, I'm all in.

[Qutzupalotl]

29. Yelling is good.

One of the guys in the video threw a microphone at the reporter. That’s when they start to lose me.

[Igel]

32. There's limited tolerance for the press.

If the press isn't on your side.

It's why freedom of the press is so hard to dispose of--so many would love to silence or deplatform those they find immoral.

That's worded neutrally on purpose, because every side thinks its cause just and the other side's crap.

[dixiechiken1]

36. Yup, microphone shouldn't have been thrown.

But this entire situation is a tinderbox right now. There is a global pandemic. People have been cooped up for two months. 40 million people unemployed. Economy is in the shitter. And a(nother) AA loses their life in a senseless act of hatred and blatant racism in America. The uncertainty and fear are palpable.

There's no excuse for violence... but sometimes, there are reasons for it.

[rockfordfile]

30. No

[OnDoutside]

21. To be fair, you probably have never attended a Trump Rally !!!

[Qutzupalotl]

23. Granted.

And I realize that sort of thing happens there. I just hate to see us become the mirror image of that.

It’s a heavy burden, being the adults in the room, but the alternative seems to be endless escalation leading to a civil war.

[Blue_true]

26. MAGATS have gone into government meeting halls with big guns, done to implicitly

threaten officials that they don't like. They hung TWO democratic governors in effigy. And you are saying that the escalation has not reached a boiling point? What should our side do, keep turning the other cheek until they decide to shoot it off?

[Igel]

33. They may have hung them,

but they haven't hanged them.

[Blue_true]

37. Whatever. nt

[Qutzupalotl]

34. Here's what I think.

Bringing guns to a protest is intimidation, and that’s not okay. Hanging people in effigy is also intimidation, also not okay. None of those cases so far has resulted in actual shooting or actual hanging, and thank goodness for that. We need to avoid escalating our responses well before we approach that point. I can foresee a time when such a response will be unavoidable, and I hope we are not there yet.

MLK favored non-violent methods, including peaceful civil disobedience, to draw attention to societal wrongs. I favor that over replicating the other side’s methods. I realize that is a difficult path. I respect John Lewis, for instance, but I question whether I could muster the courage to face a harsh beating without responding in kind. But winning hearts and minds is more important than revenge, and that means keeping our ideals in mind as we consider how to respond. We are better than them, but we have to continue to show it and not sink to their level; because once we do, we deserve what will follow.

We are very near a tipping point, but I still have hope that a full-on civil war can be avoided.

[roamer65]

5. Faux News isn't press. It's a Russian propaganda operation.

It should be treated as such.

[Qutzupalotl]

15. While I agree about Fox,

please consider what the “other side” thinks of our legitimate news outlets. If they ever become arbiters of what is allowed to air, we stand to lose a lot.

[MoonlitKnight]

16. They have been doing it for four years

Seems they like to dish it out but can’t take it.

[rockfordfile]

31. That happen years ago with the Iraq war lies

[Qutzupalotl]

35. A fair point.

They did indeed pressure outlets to conform to a pro-war view, and that was reprehensible.

If I may rephrase for clarity, I don’t want a mob deciding by force what is or isn’t a legitimate news source. Better to use our free speech to point out their flaws and hypocrisy, rather than use intimidation or force.

This was a relatively mild incident, but it would not take much more to spiral out of control. I’d rather we didn’t go there.

[greenjar_01]

8. The Defender of Twoops

[Tipperary]

11. How did anyone on the street know they were Fox?

I would not recognize anyone from Fox. I agree with Tapper; not a good precedent.

[Blue_true]

27. Markings on microphones and tv booms. nt

[essme]

6. Well, this goes back to the personal responsibility shit FOX

has been spewing for over 20 years.

The RW media- including Rush Limbaugh-- have made sure people despise them. That mission was accomplished-- so, what in the hell made them think the protesters wouldn't chase them?

I agree- the press should NOT be treated this way, and while they did not deserve it, they are the victim of the hatred they have been promoting.

[dixiechiken1]

9. THIS...

...they are the victim of the hatred they have been promoting.

EXACTLY THIS. Well said, essme.

[gratuitous]

10. Indeed

Fox and the right wing noise machine have been antagonizing people for decades. Last night one small bunch of them got the merest whiff of a taste on the tip of their tongues of the violence and animosity they've been brewing, and suddenly we all need to be civil and polite and don't you know how scared Vittert was? Conservatives have been inviting this backlash; it would be rude and not civil at all to refuse them.

[maxrandb]

12. Sorry dipshits. You elected this waste of orange skin as president

there will be no Kumbaya moment.

You danced around the dogshit for decades, but you've really stepped in it now.

Stepped in it and smeared it all over the fabric of our society.

Don't think there's going to be a "let's move forward" call from this electorate.

There's a reckoning coming.

[madinmaryland]

22. I consider Fox News a propaganda arm of the Republican Party and not part of the "real" press.

[NutmegYankee]

13. It's still wrong.

It's no better than MAGAt nazis doing this to CNN.

[essme]

14. and I stated it was

wrong.

See my post above.

There aren't going to be a whole helluva lotta "right" going into riots.

[NutmegYankee]

20. I wasn't directing this at you.

[delisen]

17. They seem scared. Are they going to start arming themselves

[Brainfodder]

24. Fox News should not be welcomed ANY PLACE?

Consequences!

F-F-N!