The death of Paul Kessler, killed for holding a pro-Israel sign on a Los Angeles street corner, has been the subject of sparse, weirdly omissive media coverage, of which we’ve taken note here at the MRC. The announcement of an arrest in the matter is no exception, as it drew sparse coverage on one major network newscast and none at all on the others.
ABC and CBS found no time to provide their viewers with an update. However, NBC did. Here’s their very brief account of the arrest:
LESTER HOLT: And today we learned of an arrest in the death of a jewish protester near Los Angeles, as tensions rise from coast-to-coast. Here’s Julia Ainsley.
JULIA AINSLEY: It was a shocking moment at a California protest last month. A Jewish man, Paul Kessler, lying on the ground, knocked down during what witnesses say was a physical altercation with a pro-Palestinian protester. Kessler later died, and tonight, police arresting Loay Alnaji, a computer science professor, for involuntary manslaughter.
On the one hand, at least NBC covered the story. On the other hand, the arrest was merely a narrative device inserted among other stories, and leading to a report on the involvement of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) with campus security, amid a rise in antisemitic and islamophobic threats. Each of those stories was good for two or more minutes.
First, there was a bridge blockage in San Francisco. Then, the report on the arrest in Kessler’s death. Then, the pro-Hamas protest outside of the Democratic Party headquarters in Washington, D.C., which was very insurrectiony what with members of Congress sheltering in place and several injured law enforcement officers. None of those items drew significant coverage, as they were merely a preamble for the campus report.
But even these crumbs were more than what these stories garnered on CBS and ABC, which was nothing at all.
Click “expand” to view the transcript of the full aforementioned report as aired on NBC Nightly News on Thursday, November 16th, 2023:
LESTER HOLT: A wild scene on San Francisco's Bay Bridge. Dozens of anti-war protesters arrested after blocking traffic. And today we learned of an arrest in the death of a jewish protester near Los Angeles, as tensions rise from coast-to-coast. Here’s Julia Ainsley.
JULIA AINSLEY: It was a shocking moment at a California protest last month. A Jewish man, Paul Kessler, lying on the ground, knocked down during what witnesses say was a physical altercation with a pro-Palestinian protester. Kessler later died, and tonight, police arresting Loay Alnaji, a computer science professor, for involuntary manslaughter.
And overnight, violence in Washington. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashing with Capitol Police outside Democratic Party headquarters. Officials say officers suffered minor injuries, including from being pepper sprayed and punched.
All of it as tensions are boiling over on college campuses too. At Cooper Union, Jewish students huddling in a library as protesters pound on the door. This week, the FBI director warning anti-semitism in the U.S. is soaring since the Hamas terror attacks.
FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY: The biggest chunk of the threats that have been reported into us, by a good margin, are threats to the Jewish community.
AINSLEY: At the University of Connecticut, Jewish students tell us they have seen antisemitic flyers, which administrators took down. Jewish student groups now training students for extra security.
What do you think people should know about what it's like to be a Jewish college student in America right now?
JANA TARTIKOVSKI: It's scary. You know, it's very hard. I think…
AINSLEY: Jana Tartikovski is a junior.
TARTIKOVSKI: I hide my star of David just because, you know, I feel more secure that way.
AINSLEY: While members of pro-Palestinian groups at UConn are also worried. Lena Marouf, a recent graduate, said she received this threatening voicemail.
CALLER: You're supporting baby killers, people who rape grandmas. I can't wait to see you dead.
AINSLEY: How did you feel?
LENA HAROUF: It makes you wonder what else are they capable of doing if they're going out of their way to get your number.
AINSLEY: UConn administrators say the school unequivocally condemns islamophobia just as it condemns anti-semitism, and is investigating. Now CISA, the nation’s critical infrastructure agency, is offering experts to campuses to put stronger security plans in place.
BRANDON WALES, CISA: We have seen a uptick in requests for our support.
AINSLEY: Do you have enough people to do this work?
WALES: The demand is always going to outstrip the supply here.
AINSLEY: Yeshiva University among those colleges reaching out.
RABBI ARI BERMAN: This is a scary time for Jews, certainly on college campuses.
AINSLEY: Tonight Connecticut's governor is meeting with federal officials to beef up security on campuses. Lester.
HOLT: Julia Ainsley. Thank you.
