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Cable
News Devotes 30 Seconds to Mass Arrests Protesting Political
Corruption
13
April, 2016
THE
DEMOCRACY SPRING,
a protest movement calling on Congress to “end the
corruption of big money in our politics” and “ensure free and
fair elections,” converged on Capitol Hill on Monday, staging a
nonviolent sit-in that resulted in over 400 arrests — a massive
number by Washington sit-in standards.
While the action, dubbed #DemocracySpring, garnered wide coverage on social media and over 136,000 tweets, cable news programs found little time to cover the political protests, instead focusing largely on horse-race coverage of the presidential candidates for most of the day.
During
daytime and afternoon news segments, CNN did not devote any coverage
to the actions. MSNBC mentioned the protests for approximately 12
seconds, while Fox News mentioned the arrests and discussed the
protests for about 17 seconds.
MSNBC
and Fox News not only provided minimal coverage, but hosts on both
networks misrepresented the protests, claiming they were narrowly
focused only on “voting rights issues.” The focus on systemic
political corruption, an issue that was widely criticized during
the rally yesterday, was ignored
Later
in the day, CNN posted
a short item on its website. The protests were widely covered
by CSPAN, Al
Jazeera,
and NPR,
among other outlets. But cable news programs, which specialize in
American political news, were another story.
Compare
the paltry coverage to a lengthy CNN segment last May, when host Wolf
Blitzer featured a
correspondent reporting from the scene of a fringe anti-Muslim
rally in Phoenix. Left-wing protests in particular
have often been
ignored by
mainstream media coverage.
The
parent companies of cable news networks are closely tied to the
Washington establishment being challenged by protesters on Monday,
both spending and receiving some of the big money the protesters are
complaining about.
Comcast,
parent company of MSNBC, is among the biggest spenders on political
lobbying, and its senior management has raised thousands
of campaign dollars for congressional Republicans and Hillary
Clinton.
Other broadcasting companies have lobbied in
recent years against reforms that would diminish the role of big
money in election campaigns largely because the bulk of campaign
funds are spent on television advertisements, a major source
of revenue for television programs. Elizabeth Wilner,
senior vice president at Kantar, a media analysis firm, estimated
that $4.4
billion would
be spent on television ads during the election cycle this year.
Network
executives have hardly been shy about celebrating the cash windfall,
most notably CBS
chief Les Moonves.
Before
the demonstrators were arrested, the protesters discussed lack of
media coverage for their cause and chanted:
“Where is CNN?”
Top
photo: Democracy Spring protesters calling for the end of big
money in politics stage a sit-in on the Capitol steps and on the East
Plaza of the Capitol on April 11, 2016.
Arrests made as hundreds of elderly Americans protest at 2nd ‘Democracy Spring’
sit-in
RT,
12
April, 2016
Hundreds
of Americans, many of whom are elderly, marched in support of
political reform in Washington, DC, taking part in a sit-in and
risking arrest as they pushed for fairer elections. RT's 'Redacted
Tonight' host Lee Camp was one of those detained.
Already,
multiple arrests have been made, according to reports from those on
the ground near the demonstrations.
Lee Camp [Redacted]
Being arrested now #DemocracySpring
According
to RT's correspondents, police have started releasing some of the
protesters.
The
sit-in comes one day after more than 400 people were arrested for
participating in what has been been termed the 'Democracy Spring'
movement. The organization has planned for 10 days of demonstrations
and mass sit-ins at the US capitol, with day two highlighting efforts
from older Americans who want to see change.
“As
‘elders’ we have a moral imperative to care for and speak for
future generations,” the Democracy Spring website reads. “We aim
to use our wisdom and life experience to guide our actions, and stand
together to create our legacy and reclaim our democracy.”
“Every
voice is needed to speak up and say what we know is true – that a
thriving and just democracy is the path towards a sustainable world
for all children, for all life.”
As
protesters marched on the US capitol, many elderly Americans held
signs and chanted slogans such as: "Democracy is not for sale,
[we're] not too old to go to jail.”
Paulina Leonovich
Hundreds of #DemocracySpring activists chanting "Democracy is not for sale, we'r not too old to go to jail"
“I’m
not dead yet; I care deeply; I vote,” read another sign held by a
demonstrator.
Evan Weber
Sign reads: "I'm not dead yet. I care deeply. I vote." #EldersRising & risking arrest for #DemocracySpring Day 2.
Social
media users have reported seeing dozens of police officers out to
keep an eye on the protesters and make arrests.
Octogenarians being arrested for #DemocracySpring! If they can stand up against this corruption, we all can.
As
part of its movement, Democracy Spring is pushing lawmakers to pass
legislation that would boost the power of small campaign
contributions, offer public funding for political candidates, and
update the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in order to protect minority and
lower-income voters at the polls.
The
group is also calling for a constitutional amendment that would
essentially overturn Supreme Court rulings giving corporations the
ability to freely spend in elections. The amendment would end “the
big money dominance of our elections and allows for Congress and the
States to set overall limits on campaign spending, including
prohibitions on corporate and union spending in the political
process.”
#DemocracySpring brought chairs for Elders sit-in at the US Capitol
Additionally,
Democracy Spring wants to see Congress hold hearings and vote on
filling the vacancy on the Supreme Court. The group does not have a
position on whether President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge
Merrick Garland should be approved, but it does want the Senate “to
fulfill its constitutional duty to hold hearings so that the American
people may learn more about his positions on campaign finance and
voting rights and, ultimately, take an up or down vote on the
nominee.”
The
mainstream media has not covered the event, even ignoring protesters
as they blocked Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) from
arriving at a press conference he had scheduled at the Republican
National Committee headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.
RT America
Mainstream media refuses to cover #DemocracySpring, even as protesters block Paul Ryan from his press conference
Meanwhile,
in Paris...
RAW:
Police pepper spray labor reform protesters in Paris
Police
have clashed with the labor reform protesters in Paris. Hundreds
built barricades and attempted to block police cars in the French
capital. The protests started at end of March against changes
proposed by the French government that could see the number of hours
in a standard working week increased from 35 to 48.
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