This past week, there was a stark contrast between CNN and Fox morning shows in their coverage of hate crimes allegedly inspired by the Israel-Hamas war as CNN used the stabbing of a Palestinian American man in Austin to push for a ceasefire while Fox highlighted a Palestinian illegal alien who beat a Jewish homeowner in New York.
CNN This Morning covered the Austin story on both Wednesday and Thursday as correspondent Dianne Gallagher highlighted lame assertions by the victim, Zacharia Doar, that Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden were to blame because they have supported Israel's military actions in Gaza. On Wednesday, co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Phil Mattingly began by recalling the left-wing Muslim activist group CAIR trying to publicize the issue:
POPPY HARLOW: This morning, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights group wants prosecutors to bring hate crime charges in the attack of a Palestinian American man that happened over the weekend.
PHIL MATTINGLY: Twenty-three-year-old Zacharia Doar is recovering from surgery after being stabbed following a pro-Palestinian protest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. The Council on American Islamic Relations is calling for hate crimes charges to be brought against Bert James Baker.
After recalling that the assailant allegedly targeted Doar because he had a pro-Palestinian flag displayed on his vehicle, Gallagher then got to the victim's father recalling that his son essentially blamed the attack on U.S. politicians who support Israel:
DIANNE GALLAGHER: Doar's father yesterday saying he was devastated when he got the call. He had been at the rally with his son and blames the governor, the city council, and President Biden.
NIZAR DOAR, FATHER OF STABBING VICTIM: He said, "Mr. President, Mr. Joe Biden, I blame you. I blame you for what happened to me. If you would have called for a ceasefire three months ago, this never would have happened."
On Thursday's show, Gallagher filed a second report and updated viewers on his injuries. She repeated the victim's claims that U.S. politicians were to blame for the attack and used a soundbite of him:
DIANNE GALLAGHER: Doar believes U.S. politicians, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden should call for a ceasefire.
ZACHARIA DOAR, STABBING VICTIM: If those two people would have stepped up and said something to stand for us -- said something to defend us, this would have never happened. But because they haven't said nothing for us, this is the cause. I'm not the first -- I'm not the second -- I'm not even the third. How many more have to go on for them to realize that this is wrong?
He soon added: "I just really wish that people would realize that when we go out there and we protest, it's not to cause a problem. It's to end a problem. And that's the problem in Gaza. Something like this is not going to stop me from standing up for my people."
CNN viewers did not hear about self-described "asylum seeker" who identifies as Palestinian and allegedly crossed the border illegally from Mexico and beat a Jewish man outside his Long Island home even though there was video of the incident.
Shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Fox anchor Bill Hemmer showed video as he informed viewers:
Even a quiet New York suburb falls victim to the border crisis. Authorities in Long Island say that a Palestinian migrant arrived from Mexico, stole a pro-Israeli flag from a front porch, and then beat up the homeowner who tried to stop him. The flag declared, "In this home, we stand with Israel." The homeowner is okay, a bit bruised, and authorities say the suspect claimed to be seeking asylum.
On Thursday morning, both Fox & Friends First and Fox & Friends covered the story. Fox host Carly Shimkus showed video as she recounted on the earlier show.
Transcripts follow:
CNN This Morning
February 7, 2024
7:37 a.m. Eastern
POPPY HARLOW: Welcome back. This morning, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights group wants prosecutors to bring hate crime charges in the attack of a Palestinian American man that happened over the weekend.
PHIL MATTINGLY: Twenty-three-year-old Zacharia Doar is recovering from surgery after being stabbed following a pro-Palestinian protest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. The Council on American Islamic Relations is calling for hate crimes charges to be brought against Bert James Baker. He's been arrested and charged with second degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. CNN correspondent Dianne Gallagher joins us now with more of the details. Dianne, what happens next? And what's the family saying here?
DIANNE GALLAGHER: So, Phil, what happens next is it's under investigation. Also police calling it a bias-motivated incident that will go to their hate crimes review committee. Now, only the Travis County district attorney can actually bring hate crime charges if they determine they are warranted. That office told CNN yesterday that it awaits receiving the investigation. A 36-year-old Bert James Baker was arrested on Sunday and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the stabbing of 23-year-old Zacharia Doar.
According to the Council on American Islamic Relations, on Sunday Doar and three other Muslim American friends were leaving that ceasefire rally in Austin when a man on a bicycle ripped a flag bearing the Palestinian -- "free Palestine" on it off of their car. That is when CAIR says that the man came around, began shouting the N word, and pulled one of the men in the vehicle out. The other three got out, tried fighting him off, and that, they say, is when Doar was stabbed. Doar's father yesterday saying he was devastated when he got the call. He had been at the rally with his son and blames the governor, the city council, and President Biden.
NIZAR DOAR, FATHER OF STABBING VICTIM: He said, "Mr. President, Mr. Joe Biden, I blame you. I blame you for what happened to me. If you would have called for a ceasefire three months ago, this never would have happened." (editing jump) The first thing came to my mind is I'm going to lose my son. (editing jump) I was thinking how I'm going to tell him that I failed to protect my son.
GALLAGHER: Now, Zacharia Doar has a five-month-old son at home himself. Phil. Poppy, his father says that he had surgery, that he was in agony after that stabbing. CAIR tells me that he had a broken rib. He was stabbed in the side and is recovering and again wants to see charges and hate crime charges against the suspect, they say.
(...)
CNN This Morning
February 8, 2024
7:59 a.m.
PHIL MATTINGLY: The 23-year-old Palestinian American stabbed after a pro-Palestinian rally is speaking out this morning. He provides an update to his condition on CNN and describes how his injuries are affecting him in caring for his five-month-old son. This comes as the Austin Police Department says that the stabbing incident was a hate crime. Joining us now is CNN's Dianne Gallagher. Dianne, Zacharia, Doar has spoken to you -- has spoken to CNN. What are you hearing?
DIANNE GALLAGHER: So he has about a six-to eight week recovery from his injuries ahead of him. It is still up to the Travis County district attorney to decide whether they are going to elevate the charged offense to hate crime and prosecute it that way. But there is no doubt in Zacharia Doar's mind that he is one of a growing number of victims of these anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and anti-Arab attacks across this country. The stabbing of a 23-year-old Palestinian American meets the definition of a hate crime according to the Austin Police Department. Zacharia Doar agrees this crime against him was motivated by hate.
ZACHARIA DOAR, STABBING VICTIM: I was the only one there that had a Palestine flag, and you could see it hanging out the window. He came specifically to my door and dragged me from the vehicle.
GALLAGHER: The stabbing happened Sunday following a pro-Palestinian rally in Austin when Doar says the suspect, Bert James Baker, approached his car.
DOAR: I looked around. I didn't see anything, and then my door was opened by a crazy guy, and he dragged me from my truck.
GALLAGHER: Doar was stabbed in the left side of his back and has a broken rib. He now worries about caring for his five-month-old son.
DOAR: That's one of my greatest joys, coming home to my son, and that was taken away from me. I haven't been able to pick up my son, be there for my son, do anything for him for the past couple of days.
GALLAGHER: Doar believes U.S. politicians, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden should call for a ceasefire.
DOAR: If those two people would have stepped up and said something to stand for us -- said something to defend us, this would have never happened. But because they haven't said nothing for us, this is the cause. I'm not the first -- I'm not the second -- I'm not even the third. How many more have to go on for them to realize that this is wrong?
GALLAGHER: He says this attack will not stop him from advocating for the people of Gaza.
DOAR: I just really wish that people would realize that when we go out there and we protest, it's not to cause a problem. It's to end a problem. And that's the problem in Gaza. Something like this is not going to stop me from standing up for my people.
GALLAGHER: Now, we reached out to a public defender for Bert James Baker. He declined to comment. Phil, Poppy?
(...)
Fox's America's Newsroom
February 7, 2024
9:11 a.m.
BILL HEMMER: Even a quiet New York suburb falls victim to the border crisis. Authorities in Long Island say that a Palestinian migrant arrived from Mexico, stole a pro-Israeli flag from a front porch, and then beat up the homeowner who tried to stop him. The flag declared, "In this home, we stand with Israel." The homeowner is okay, a bit bruised, and authorities say the suspect claimed to be seeking asylum.
(...)
Fox & Friends First
February 8, 2024
5:03 a.m. Eastern
CARLY SHIMKUS: Take a look at this. A Palestinian migrant who entered the country illegally through our southern border is now facing hate crime charges for this vicious anti-Semitic attack on a Long Island homeowner. Take a look at this video. Police say it shows the migrant punching, head butting, and beating that homeowner after ripping down and stealing an Israeli flag that was hanging outside the house. You can see the flag right there at their feet as they fight on the front lawn. The migrant also told detectives he hates Jews and made threats to, quote, "kill the Jews" after being arrested. He's now facing felony hate crime charges as well as assault, robbery and criminal mischief. Bail is set for $50,000.
(...)
February 8, 2024
Fox & Friends
7:11 a.m.
SHIMKUS: A Palestinian migrant who entered the county illegally through our southern border is now facing hate crime charges. He was caught on camera ripping down and stealing an Israeli flag that was hanging outside a home on Long Island, New York. When the homeowner went to get the flag back, he was punched, head butted and beaten. The migrant is now facing felony hate crime charges. Bail set at $50,000.
