Left-wing terrorism is getting a polished shine by the liberal broadcast networks. During their Tuesday updates on the Antifa terrorist attack at the construction site of a police and firefighter training center in Atlanta, Georgia, ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS Mornings took different approaches to spinning the incident. ABC simply called it “foolishness,” while CBS called them “demonstrators,” touted a supposed “broad coalition” that opposed the project, and dismissed a cop getting shot.
“Now, we’re going to go to Atlanta where 23 people are now facing domestic terrorism charges after an attack against police where rioters through explosives and Molotov cocktails at officers,” ABC co-host Michael Strahan announced before handing it off to correspondent Steve Osunsami.
As if it was some kind of defense, Osunsami argued that of the 23 charged with domestic terrorism, “only two are from Georgia. They're from Utah, Arizona, far away from here. One person is from Canada. Another person is from France.”
What does their state or country of origin have to do with the terrorism charges, Steve? The 9/11 hijackers were still terrorists despite not being from New York, Washington, D.C., or even the United States.
“They're fighting to save the woods that the police training center would replace but also saying that they're trying to keep police from militarizing,” Osunsami hyped their motives. He then lamented that the terrorist attack “put local civil rights groups in a strange position where they agree with the idea not trying to militarize the police but are also trying not to support any foolishness.”
Osunsami also wanted to “underline” that the training center was “approved by lawmakers at the state and local levels, Democrats and Republicans of all colors.”
Yet, he refused to give any ideological label to the left-wing domestic terrorists in Antifa who attacked the construction site.
Over on CBS, correspondent Skyler Henry opened his report by describing how “demonstrators” – not left-wing terrorists – were “wearing masks and holding shields” while “swarming the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, hurling fireworks at police officers and lighting construction equipment on fire.”
His report also seemed to blame the construction project for the terrorist attack. He played a soundbite from “community organizers,” one of which proclaimed: “The current plan will heighten tensions and harm communities for decades.”
Henry would tout how “a broad coalition opposes the project.” The supposed broad coalition ranged from “environmentalists concerned about the potential destruction of Atlanta’s South River Forest to local civil rights leaders who say the project will further militarize police.”
Of course, the supposed “broad coalition” was only constituted of leftist organizations.
This wasn’t the first time leftists engaged in violence at the construction site. In January, a state trooper was shot while authorities were clearing illegal camps on the property. Officers returned fire and killed the suspect.
But according to Henry, the cops shot at peaceful protesters. “In January, law enforcement shot and killed a demonstrator who was living on the site’s grounds. Prompting widespread outcry. Officers claimed the protesters shot at them first,” he falsely reported.
Osunsami did note the shooting but kept it more cut and dry. “In January, one of them was killed after police say they shot at them and then police shot back,” he said.
Each network was also mute on how a staff attorney with the far-left Southern Poverty Law Center was one of those facing domestic terrorism charges; continuing the networks’ silence.
The misinformation these networks were pushing about the Antifa terrorist attack was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Facebook via Meta on ABC and Claritin on CBS. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
March 7, 2023
8:10:56 a.m. EasternMICHAEL STRAHAN: Now, we’re going to go to Atlanta where 23 people are now facing domestic terrorism charges after an attack against police where rioters through explosives and Molotov cocktails at officers. Steve Osunsami is in Atlanta with the latest. Good morning, Steve.
STEVE OSUNSAMI: Good morning to you, Michael. These 23 people are charged with domestic terrorism and police here point out only two are from Georgia. They're from Utah, Arizona, far away from here. One person is from Canada. Another person is from France.
Authorities say that they stormed what is going to be a training facility for police Sunday, threw three bricks, rocks, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails at police officers, setting fire to construction equipment, and launching rounds of commercial grade fireworks. This is by no means their first clash with police. This has been going on for months. In January, one of them was killed after police say they shot at them and then police shot back.
They're fighting to save the woods that the police training center would replace but also saying that they're trying to keep police from militarizing. This has put local civil rights groups in a strange position where they agree with the idea not trying to militarize the police but are also trying not to support any foolishness.
Protesters say they will be here all week trying to stop the police training center from being built. But we should underline it was approved by lawmakers at the state and local levels, Democrats and Republicans of all colors. Robin.
ROBIN ROBERTS: On both sides. All right there, Steve. Thank you.
CBS Mornings
March 7, 2023
8:08:16 a.m. EasternVLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Prosecutors in Atlanta have charged nearly two dozen people with domestic terrorism. They're accused of attacking the construction site of a controversial training facility for police and firefighters on Sunday. Authorities say demonstrators were armed with rocks and Molotov cocktails. It's the latest flare-up over the project that activists call “Cop City.”
Skyler Henry reports from Georgia where protesters are being held.
[Cuts to video]
SKYLER HENRY: Aerial footage shows the group of demonstrators, many wearing masks and holding shields, swarming the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, hurling fireworks at police officers and lighting construction equipment on fire.
CHIEF DARIN SCHIERBAUM (Atlanta PD): This wasn't about a public safety training center. This was about anarchy and this was about the the attempt to destabilize.
HENRY: Police say 35 people were arrested in the incident, though 11 were released without charges. And one was hospitalized. Of the remaining 23 who face domestic terror charges, only two are from Georgia. And just one is from Atlanta.
WILL HARLAN (Center for Biological Diversity, South East Director): The current plan will heighten tensions and harm communities for decades.
HENRY: Community organizers appeared at Monday's Atlanta City Council meeting to voice their objections to the facility. The council approved by a 10-4 vote in September 2021.
A broad coalition opposes the project; ranging from environmentalists concerned about the potential destruction of Atlanta’s South River Forest to local civil rights leaders who say the project will further militarize police.
REV. KEYANNA JONES: It all goes together because none of our issue stand alone.
HENRY: Keyanna Jones is a reverend is east Atlanta, who was among the people to speak at Monday’s city council meeting.
JONES (from the meeting): We are opening our mouths and crying with a loud voice to say that we don't want cop city.
HENRY: Jones told us she was stunned by protesters' violence Sunday, especially in contrast to what she described as safe community-oriented events.
JONES: We are not sparing Mayor Andre Dickens or this council for one moment. We are holding them accountable.
HENRY: In January, law enforcement shot and killed a demonstrator who was living on the site’s grounds. Prompting widespread outcry. Officers claimed the protesters shot at them first. At the time, Atlanta's mayor defended the training facility and said it was answering a call from constituents to improve policing, following nationwide civil rights protests in the summer of 2020.
MAYOR ANDRE DICKENS (D-Atlanta): They don't want to see the very things they asked for, more police training. We can't train imaginary. We have to do it in a facility that allows for police, for our firefighters, and the community to train together.
[Cuts back to live]
HENRY: Now, Mayor Dickens also said while the training facility will be built on 85 acres of forestland, some 300 acres will be preserved. Now, as for the incident that happened on Sunday, police say no officers were injured in the incident. They also say they will be standing by should any protest this week become violent. Tony.
TONY DOKOUPIL: All right Skyler, got it. Thank you very much.
