"Anger in the streets and we're there for the protests," ABC
anchor Diane Sawyer teased in making reaction from a few opposed to
Arizona's immigration enforcement efforts her top story on Thursday
night. She led: "Emboldened by a judge's rebuke of that law yesterday,
hundreds of opponents of the crackdown took to the streets today. But
the state's unyielding Governor stood by the law." ABC's Barbara Pinto
touted over video which included a protester waving a Che Guevara flag:
Demonstrations started at dawn - hundreds of protesters, dozens of arrests, tempers flaring. Tensions are running high here outside this jail, where protesters have gathered and it's turned into a standoff with sheriff's deputies who are trying to push their way out of the building. Demonstrations were loud, disruptive, but mostly peaceful.
After a clip of a woman complaining "Joe Arpaio has picked the easy
targets, the day laborers. Let's go after the real criminals and stop
wasting our money," Pinto fretted: "This afternoon, Sheriff Arpaio
launched one of his controversial crime raids, targeting illegal
immigrants." She concluded with a warning: "Tonight's rally intended
to send a clear signal to lawmakers and to Governor Brewer from those
who think even a partial law is too much."
World News followed Pinto with a short bio piece on Arizona Governor
Jan Brewer, but it didn't offer any points in favor of the state's law.
Championing left-wing protests in Arizona is nothing new for ABC's
World News. The newscast did it back on May 1 and again on May 30 when
David Muir declared: "Day of outrage, anger on the streets of Phoenix
and across this country tonight," pleading: "Will an army of protesters
be heard?"
Meanwhile, on Thursday's NBC Nightly News reporter George Lewis
centered a story on how plenty of resources are already focused on
catching illegals with more help coming:
The question is how much border security is enough. There are 20,000 border patrol agents now. That's twice as many as there were nine years ago. They are a major presence on the streets of Nogales and soon they'll be joined by the National Guard...
Wednesday night: "ABC Heralds 'Relief Replaced Dread, Hope Replaced Fear' While NBC Fears 'Backlash' from 'Angry' Arizonans [1]."
From May 1:
Nets Celebrate May Day Pro-Illegal Immigrant Protests, Barely Mention Shot Deputy [2]
"Angry backlash from coast to coast," ABC's David Muir teased Saturday's World News, "huge rallies across this country tonight against that new controversial immigration law."
ABC reporter Eric Horng touted how "this is the fifth year in a row that nationwide immigration rallies have been held on May 1st, but this year emotions are particularly raw. They came by the thousands. A sea of demonstrators armed with a message." He soon claimed "the state has been lampooned by comedians" and as evidence played the very same clip from the left wing Jon Stewart as had NBC's Andrea Mitchell earlier in the week when she asserted Arizona had become "a laughing stock."
From May 30:
ABC and NBC Champion Illegal Alien Cause: 'Will an Army of Protesters Be Heard? [3]'
Another pro-illegal alien protest and, once again, the networks champion the cause. Four weeks after the broadcast network evening shows trumpeted May Day marches against Arizona's effort to enforce federal law, another round of marches prompted ABC and NBC on Saturday night to push the left-wing cause.
"Day of outrage, anger on the streets of Phoenix and across this country tonight," ABC anchor David Muir declared, pleading: "Will an army of protesters be heard?" Reporter Jeremy Hubbard began his story for World News: "In their most massive numbers yet, a deluge of adversaries rally and rail against what could soon be the law of the land in Arizona."
The lead story on the Thursday, July 29 ABC World News:
DIANE SAWYER: Good evening. Arizona's immigration law is on hold. The protests are not. Emboldened by a judge's rebuke of that law yesterday, hundreds of opponents of the crackdown took to the streets today. But the state's unyielding governor stood by the law and filed an appeal. Barbara Pinto is in Phoenix tonight. She's been there all day, in the middle of the stormy showdown.
BARBARA PINTO [jpg of Pinto [4]]: Protesters descended on Phoenix, despite a judge's ruling to delay enforcement of most of the state's new crackdown on illegal immigrants. Demonstrations started at dawn - hundreds of protesters, dozens of arrests, tempers flaring. Tensions are running high here outside this jail, where protesters have gathered and it's turned into a standoff with sheriff's deputies who are trying to push their way out of the building. Demonstrations were loud, disruptive, but mostly peaceful.
LIZ HOURICAN, PROTESTER: Joe Arpaio has picked the easy targets, the day laborers. Let's go after the real criminals and stop wasting our money.
PINTO: This afternoon, Sheriff Arpaio launched one of his controversial crime raids, targeting illegal immigrants.
PINTO TO ARPAIO: Anything different today?
SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO, MARICOPA COUNTY: Well, we've got this other problem at the jails right now. As far as the operation, business as usual.
PINTO: Starting today, it's a state crime for anyone to transport illegal immigrants. That didn't seem to stop these day laborers. They were still getting picked up. They told us they're no more afraid today than they were yesterday. Outside Home Depot looking for work, we met Rene. He's been in this country illegally for 20 years.
PINTO TO RENE: Have the police been by here this morning?
RENE, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT: No, no. We don't see the police. There's no police around here.
PINTO: Now, police and protesters are gathered here at the capital. Tonight's rally intended to send a clear signal to lawmakers and to Governor Brewer from those who think even a partial law is too much.
- Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Click here [5] to follow him on Twitter.