As Twitchy told you, last night, anti-Trump protests in Portland, Oregon, turned into full-blown riots.
Here’s how NBC News reported it earlier this morning:
Dozens arrested as anti-Trump 'riot' breaks out in Portland, Oregon https://t.co/GEq1nSnA8e pic.twitter.com/wWOYT2IYBR
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 11, 2016
Notice anything?
https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/797113053603131396
https://twitter.com/robprovince/status/797110931683704832
Well, here’s one theory:
To NBC, when leftists armed with bats smashed stores and cars, and others light fires, it's a quote-riot-unquote. https://t.co/Jhqf9HojKQ
— Razor (@hale_razor) November 11, 2016
Yep. That sounds about right.
https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/797111613979500544
But if they had, you can bet NBC wouldn’t have bothered with the scare quotes.
"News" reports on "riots"
— Sir 'editorial standards' Mycroft (@sir_mycroft) November 11, 2016
NBC News’ Alexander Smith, who wrote the article, defended his decision:
Not excusing anything. Riot is in quotes because that's what the police called it & it's a criminal term. I am not there.
— Alexander Smith (@AlexanderSmith) November 11, 2016
From the article:
A protest in Portland, Oregon, against President-elect Donald Trump boiled over into what police described as a “riot” overnight Thursday after some demonstrators armed with bats smashed stores and cars, and others lit fires.
Police arrested 26 people and responded with pepper spray and rubber bullets, labeling the 1,500-strong demonstration an “unlawful assembly” and a “riot” — a class-C felony.
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Yes, “riot” was the term used by Portland police. But there should be no doubt in anyone’s — including NBC’s — mind that what took place in Portland was textbook rioting.
https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/797115762662141952
Nice try, Alexander. But no dice.
https://twitter.com/TheRealLauraMx/status/797112531139457024
.@hale_razor If that's not a riot, what is a riot?
— Keith Maniac, from Guatemala (@CutItOutPutin) November 11, 2016
Well, Smith’s lame excuse for obvious bias is a laugh-riot. Does that count?