On Wednesday, ABC's Good Morning America touted the scores of high school students in the Washington, D.C. area who protested Donald Trump outside of the billionaire's hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. Anchor Robin Roberts marveled, "Looking at some of those protesters from yesterday, they're too young to vote; but yet, they still want to be out there." Correspondent Mary Bruce replied, "Many of them definitely underage — too young to vote — but they still said that they feel their future is at risk here." [video below]
Roberts led into Bruce's report by underlining that "there has been a spike in hate crimes across the country since Election Day, with more than 400 incidents reported in the last week — as more anti-Trump protests break out." Besides covering the high-school-aged "crowd shutting down Pennsylvania Avenue, blocking the Lincoln Memorial," the journalist cited the left-wing Southern Poverty Law Center on the apparent spike in hate crimes since Election Day:
MARY BRUCE: Since the election, intimidation and harassment has grown dramatically nationwide. From a Maryland church to a billboard in California, the number of hate crime incidents doubling since last Friday. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, more than 400 incidents in the past week — four times more than the average — many, but not all of the incidents making reference to Donald Trump.
Bruce added that "when asked about these incidents, Trump said, point blank, he told his supporters to stop it. But many say he's not doing enough; and the protesters we spoke with yesterday fear this could just be the beginning." Roberts followed up with her hyping of the protesters' youth.
High school students in the Washington, D.C. metro area protested Trump on both Monday and Tuesday. However, on Wednesday, some of the underage demonstrators in nearby Rockville, Maryland assaulted one of their peers who had the audacity to wear a "Make America Great Again" hat. ABC's World News Tonight on Friday highlighted how a California high school student who was beat up for backing Trump. One hopes that they will report on this latest act of violence against a young Trump supporter.
The full transcript of Mary Bruce's report from ABC's Good Morning America on November 16, 2016:
ROBIN ROBERTS: There has been a spike in hate crimes across the country since Election Day, with more than 400 incidents reported in the last week — as more anti-Trump protests break out.
ABC's Mary Bruce is in Washington — has those details for us. Good morning, Mary.
[ABC News Graphic: "Anti-Trump Protestors Take To The Streets: Rise In Number Of Hate Crimes Since Election"]
MARY BRUCE: Robin, good morning. Well, this is where it all started — students walking out of class yesterday gathering here outside of the Trump hotel to march across this city, make their voices heard. (clip of protesters chanting, "We reject the President-Elect!")
BRUCE (voice-over): Protesters taking to the streets in the nation's capital — hundreds of students raising concerns about the new administration.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE PROTESTER: We want to let Donald Trump know that he cannot divide us with his racism, sexism — all that bigotry.
BRUCE: The crowd shutting down Pennsylvania Avenue, blocking the Lincoln Memorial.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE PROTESTER: We want to come together and show that we are strong, and that our voice matters.
BRUCE: At the back of this protest, we even found Trump supporters.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I think they're justified to an extent. I mean, some of the stuff Trump said on the campaign trail was definitely very polarizing. I mean, I think they should give Trump a chance.
BRUCE: Since the election, intimidation and harassment has grown dramatically nationwide. From a Maryland church to a billboard in California, the number of hate crime incidents doubling since last Friday. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, more than 400 incidents in the past week — four times more than the average — many, but not all of the incidents making reference to Donald Trump.
BRUCE (on-camera): Now, when asked about these incidents, Trump said, point blank, he told his supporters to stop it. But many say he's not doing enough; and the protesters we spoke with yesterday fear this could just be the beginning. Robin?
ROBERTS: And Mary, looking at some of those protesters from yesterday, they're — they're too young to vote; but yet, they still want to be out there.
BRUCE: Yeah. Many of them definitely underage — too young to vote — but they still said that they feel their future is at risk here. And so, they felt [it's] very important that their voices be heard. Robin?
ROBERTS: All right. Thank you, Mary.
