LA anchor's comment about riots sparks mass viewer outrage
An anchor's wording while reporting on the Los Angeles riots has spawned a firestorm on social media after he appeared to warn that cops should be wary when responding to offenders who had been burning cars.
'It could turn very volatile if you move law enforcement in there the wrong way and turn what is just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn into a massive confrontation and altercation between officers and demonstrators,' ABC7's Jory Rand urged, as his network's helicopter filmed a car set ablaze by protesters.
Quick to take note of the characterization were several on X, who tore into the anchor and his coverage.
The far-right Libs of TikTok, for instance, re-shared the footage and wrote: 'Yes. He really said that.'
'Is this how Democrats have fun now that Trump is getting rid of the fentanyl?' another joked.
'If patriots protested like that, the narrative would flip overnight,' someone else sniped.
A post for Libs of TikTok initially erroneously identified one of Rand's co-anchors as the owner of the quote - sparing him from some of the outrage.
The clip, meanwhile, was taken out of context, with Rand also labeling the burning of cars 'abhorrent' and acts of vandalism at other points in his coverage.
'This is obviously not something we want to see,' he said separately. 'We don't want to see cars burning in the streets, we don't want to see these acts of vandalism.'
The chaos was triggered Friday by immigration raids that resulted in dozens of arrests of what authorities say are illegal migrants and gang members.
Police ordered the public to disperse from downtown overnight after an intense day of demonstrations in the region.
Around 300 National Guard troops were deployed to the region, spurring anger and fear among many residents.
By noon local time on Sunday, hundreds had gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, where Caputo was reporting.
Protesters there approached members of the federal agency and were fired upon with control munitions.
The group then moved to block traffic on the 101 freeway. The 300 guards called to the crisis have were seen using tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to control the crowds.
President Trump has said the National Guard was necessary because Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats have failed to quell recent protests targeting immigration agents.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch Trump ally, endorsed the president's move, doubling down Trump's recent criticisms of California democrats and their cooperation with his orders.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lives in Los Angeles, said the immigration arrests and Guard deployment were designed as part of a 'cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division.'
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