It’s a sickening double standard when the media won’t call out the politics of a murder suspect but will instead eagerly politicize the victim he admitted to killing. On Friday morning, ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today repeatedly labeled the man shot and killed by an Antifa protester in Portland last weekend as “right-wing” and a “Trump supporter.” But no such political labeling was used for the Antifa activist who admitted to killing him on tape. The networks also eagerly touted the man claiming he shot the Trump supporter "in self defense."
Overnight, as police attempted to arrest the murder suspect who called himself “100% Antifa,” the man pulled a gun on officers and was fatally shot. But NBC’s Willie Geist only labeled his murder victim.
"Overnight, the main suspect in that fatal shooting of an activist, following a Portland protest, was killed himself as authorities moved in to arrest him," Geist said.
ABC's Cecilia Vega followed suit on GMA: "A suspect accused of killing a right wing protester during the unrest in Portland was fatally shot by authorities during an attempted arrest on him."
In NBC correspondent Joe Fryer’s report, he also labeled the man killed as “far-right” repeatedly, but wouldn’t call the Antifa activist “far-left”:
[A]uthorities say they were attempting to arrest 48-year-old Michael Forest Reinoehl believed to be involved in the killing of a right-wing supporter of President Trump. But in a new interview with Vice News, Reinoehl says he was acting in self-defense.
...According to officials, Reinoehl was allegedly involved in the killing of Aaron Jay Danielson over the weekend in Portland, following widespread protesters. The leader of the far-right group Patriot Prayer says Danielson was a supporter and was taking part in a pro-Trump caravan.
REINOEHL: I had no chance.
FRYER: In an interview aired with Vice News, Reinoehl, who describes himself as an anti-fascist, appears to admit to the shooting, said he acted out of self-defense.
ABC’s Matt Gutman also repeatedly called Danielson “right-wing” or a Trump supporter, but wouldn't do the same for Reinoehl, (as if Antifa was apolitical?):
Overnight U.S. Marshals shooting and killing an Antifa demonstrator wanted for murder of a pro-Trump supporter, the incident caught on tape last Saturday.
(....)
The man he allegedly killed was Aaron J. Danielson, seen wearing a blue lives matter flag and reportedly a hat belonging to a right wing group.
(....)
Danielson was part of a group of 600 vehicles that caravanned through Portland last Saturday. A group which had been clashing with Antifa elements.
Immediately following ABC’s report, Gutman goes on to paint a sympathetic picture of Portland rioters. Reporting from the ground last night, the reporter complained police “pounced” on the “peaceful” protesters. He added:
Now, all of this sets the stage for a potentially explosive weekend here. BLM and Antifa activists marking 100 days of continuous demonstrations and right wing and pro-Trump activists will be marking a week since the killing of Jay Danielson, all of them concentrated right here in Portland. Police officials tell me they are bracing for potential bloodshed.
In the 8:00 a.m. Eastern hour, Gutman swapped out "right wing" for "white nationalists."
CBS This Morning was the only network to call Reinoehl a "left-leaning suspect." Although they used stronger language to describe Danielson ("ultra conservative") they also were the only network to play a short soundbite from his friend defending Danielson to somewhat balance out all the soundbites from Reinoehl.
The media has been quick to defend Antifa and Black Lives Matter violence all the while conveniently leaving out their radical politics.
If you don't like how ABC covers for violent activists and murderers, you can tell ABC's advertisers like Volkswagen here.
Read the transcripts below:
ABC’s Good Morning America
09/04/2020
7:02 a.m EasternCECILIA VEGA: First we want to get to breaking news. A suspect accused of killing a right wing protester during the unrest in Portland was fatally shot by authorities during an attempted arrest on him. This happening just hours after he appeared to take responsibility for that -- for shooting that protester in a new interview. Matt Gutman is in Portland, Oregon, with the latest on this developing story. Good morning, Matt.
GUTMAN: Hey, good morning, Cecilia. We learned of the shooting in the midst of a protest just several hours ago and federal officials say that they opened fire on Reinoehl when they believe he intended to fight and not surrender and when the Portland Police Department put out their arrest warrant for him they said he was armed and dangerous. Overnight U.S. Marshals shooting and killing an Antifa demonstrator wanted for murder of a pro-Trump supporter, the incident caught on tape last Saturday. U.S. Marshals say they were trying to arrest Michael Reinhoehl when he attempted to flee in his car.
PORTLAND PD: There was a confrontation between the officers that were on scene and the subject. The information that we have at this time is that the subject was armed, there was shots that were fired into the vehicle and the subject fled from the vehicle at which time there was additional shots that were fired.
GUTMAN: Reinhoehl was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting just happened hours after Vice News released this interview with Reinoehl in which he appeared to take responsibility for the shooting saying, it was in self-defense.
REINOEHL: I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color, but I wasn't going to do that.
GUTMAN: The man he allegedly killed was Aaron J. Danielson, seen wearing a blue lives matter flag and reportedly a hat belonging to a right wing group.
REINOEHL: Had I not acted, I am confident that my friend and I'm sure I would have been killed because I wasn't going to stand there and let something happen.
GUTMAN: Danielson was part of a group of 600 vehicles that caravanned through Portland last Saturday. A group which had been clashing with Antifa elements. [ Crowd chanting ]
Today marks the 100th day of continuous demonstrations against the city of Portland and its police force.
-------------------
NBC’s Today
09/04/20
7:03 a.m EasternWILLIE GEIST: Overnight, the main suspect in that fatal shooting of an activist, following a Portland protest, was killed himself as authorities moved in to arrest him. It comes just hours after an interview where he spoke out about the incident for the first time. NBC’s Joe Fryer has the very latest for us. Joe, good morning.
JOE FRYER: Willie, good morning. Authorities say they were attempting to arrest 48-year-old Michael Forest Reinoehl believed to be involved in the killing of a right-wing supporter of President Trump. But in a new interview with Vice News, Reinoehl says he was acting in self-defense. A warning, some of the video we are about to show you is disturbing.
9-11 OPERATOR: People are running all over, saying they heard about five or six shots. There are a possible 10 subjects outside right now.
FRYER: Overnight, the main suspect behind Saturday's deadly shooting in Portland was killed during an attempted arrest in neighboring Washington state. Authorities say officers from a federal task force shot 48-year-old Michael Forest Reinoehl, who was wanted for murder.
OFFICER: There was a confrontation between the officers on scene and the subject. The information we have at this time is the subject was armed.
FRYER: This video appears to show the scene of last night's shooting. Officers can be seen performing CPR on a man on the ground. Reinoehl was pronounced dead at the scene. According to officials, Reinoehl was allegedly involved in the killing of Aaron Jay Danielson over the weekend in Portland, following widespread protesters. The leader of the far-right group Patriot Prayer says Danielson was a supporter and was taking part in a pro-Trump caravan.
REINOEHL: I had no chance.
FRYER: In an interview aired with Vice News, Reinoehl, who describes himself as an anti-fascist, appears to admit to the shooting, said he acted out of self-defense.
REINOEHL: I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color but I wasn’t going to do that.
VICE REPORTER: You feel it was totally justified?
REINOEHL: Totally justified. Had I not acted, I'm confident that my friend and I'm sure I would have been killed.
FRYER: Footage from the scene showed a man on a skateboard or scooter approaching Danielson before at least one shot is heard. It’s not clear whether Reinoehl acted in self-defense. Overnight, just minutes before Reinoehl was shot to death by authorities, President Trump tweeted, quote, “why aren't the Portland police arresting the cold-blooded killer of Aaron J. Danielson? Do your job and do it fast.”
