On Saturday, liberals gathered across the country to protest President Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy and to call for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). Of course, the liberal media were in love with the rallies so ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Sunday Today gushed about them on Sunday morning.
As ABC led into the story, co-host Whit Johnson seemed to suggest an overnight stabbing spree at an apartment complex filled with refugees was somehow in retaliation to the protests despite no word of a motive. “As you mentioned though, police still looking for a motive in that case. Still, the attack happening just hours after tens of thousands marched across the country over immigration,” he said.
“Powerful scenes at rallies against the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy and the separation of children from their parents,” Johnson added.
ABC correspondent Kenneth Moton began his report by touting how large the protests were. “This morning, the national outcry from coast to coast, tens of thousands of people in the street Saturday protesting President Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy that resulted in the separation of families at the border,” he boasted while noting there were over 700 protests. Where was this kind of praise of the Tea Party rallies?
Moton also hyped how despite the over 90-degree heat that gripped much of the country, liberal celebrities and politicians were able to make it out. “Demonstrators demanded legislatures act, Democrats from Congress stepped on stages across the country. Star power also front and center, including John Legend, Alicia Keys, and America Ferrera,” he reported.
Meanwhile, on NBC, correspondent Steve Patterson spoke glowingly about how the protests were “cries for justice echoing off city streets across the country.” “Saturday, at least 100,000 marched in more than 700 planned protests, all unified under the same banner, families belong together,” he added.
Patterson was enthralled by the celebrities that turned out as well. He spoke with Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda who chided his political opponents, saying, “Everyone with a shred of compassion has thought, ‘what if that was my child’ or if they don’t have children, ‘what if it was me separated from my parents.’”
A common sight at the rallies were parents using their little children as political props, like having them hold signs asking about them being put in “cages.” Patterson didn’t want to miss that opportunity and highlighted a speech by a 12-year-old girl. “And on a day dedicated to the rights of children, the biggest moment may have came from one of the smallest voices,” he opined.
“This is evil. It needs to stop,” the girl shouted. “It makes me sad to know children can't be with their parents. I don't understand why they are being so mean to us children. Don't they know how much we love our families? Don't they have a family, too?”
Patterson wrapped up his report by elevating the protestors’ overarching motives, noting: “The activists and organizers of yesterday's movement say they want to use this momentum to keep people engaged enough to make a difference at the ballot box.”
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC
Good Morning America
July 1, 2018
8:05:47 AM EasternWHIT JOHNSON: As you mentioned though, police still looking for a motive in that case, still the attack happening just hours after tens of thousands marched across the country over immigration. Powerful scenes at rallies against the Trump administration's zero tolerance policy and the separation of children from their parents. ABC’s Kenneth Moton is in Washington where there's a big turnout.
(…)
[Cuts to video]
KENNETH MOTON: This morning, the national outcry from coast to coast, tens of thousands of people in the street Saturday protesting President Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy that resulted in the separation of families at the border. They rallied in the nation’s capital.
PROTESTORS: Shame! Shame! SHAME!
MOTON: And marched over the Brooklyn Bridge. More than 700 marches in every state, massive crowds in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Boston, angry about images of children in detention centers in cages.
(…)
MOTON: Demonstrators here in D.C. walking, marching in 90-plus-degree heat, hoping that these images will reach the President.
(…)
MOTON: Demonstrators demanded legislatures act, Democrats from Congress stepped on stages across the country. Star power also front and center, including John Legend, Alicia Keys, and America Ferrera.
(…)
MOTON: Outrage, even though President Trump signed an executive order to stop family separation. This week a federal judge in California ordered the administration to reunite more than 2,000 children with their parents within 30 days. That immigration order that the president signed wasn't enough?
AMY BUCKNER CHOWDHRY (CEO, Answerlab): It wasn't enough because we know what's really in his heart and this administration's heart is to continue this kind of horrible atrocity.
[Cuts back to live]
MOTON: During the massive rallies, President Trump was on Twitter calling U.S. immigration laws, quote, “the dumbest anywhere in the world.” Protestors say they're looking to Congress but lawmakers left for the Fourth of July holiday without passing an immigration fix.
(…)
NBC
Sunday Today
July 1, 2018
8:01:57 AM EasternWILLIE GEIST: Let's begin with those nationwide protests over the ongoing separation of children from their families along the border. NBC’s Steve Patterson has the latest from Los Angeles, site of one of the biggest rallies. Steve, good morning.
STEVE PATTERSON: Willie, good morning to you. The movement drew massive cords across the country all demanding for the reunification of those migrant families and condemning the President's immigration policy through peaceful but loud protesting.
[Cuts to video]
Cries for justice echoing off city streets across the country. Saturday, at least 100,000 marched in more than 700 planned protests, all unified under the same banner, families belong together. From New York where crowds marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to Texas along the southern border.
(…)
PATTERSON: The movement calls for the Trump administration to swiftly reunite the roughly 2,000 migrant children still separated from their families, most, after illegally crossing the border. This week a federal judge in California ordered to have the separated children back within 30 days. Customs officials say about 500 have been reunited.
(…)
PATTERSON: At a few of the biggest rallies, the stars came out.
(…)
PATTERSON: Do you think those children will be reunited with their parents in a timely manner?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Absolutely not. I have no trust.
(…)
PATTERSON: And on a day dedicated to the rights of children, the biggest moment may have came from one of the smallest voices.
LEAH: This is evil. It needs to stop.
PATTERSON: Many will find 12-year-old Leah's message hard to forget.
LEAH: It makes me sad to know children can't be with their parents. I don't understand why they are being so mean to us children. Don't they know how much we love our families? Don't they have a family, too?
[Cuts back to live]
PATTERSON: Again, customs officials aren't saying what the plan is for reuniting the roughly 2,000 children still separated, but the activists and organizers of yesterday's movement say they want to use this momentum to keep people engaged enough to make a difference at the ballot box.
