The fake news cabal is totally out control
#DefundNPR trending after NPR illustrates story on ‘right-wing extremism’ with footage of driver hitting ‘protester’ after assault National Public Radio has come under fire after it illustrated a story on right-wing attacks with footage from an incident in which a car knocked down a man after the driver was attacked through the window.
#DefundNPR was trending in the US part of the Twittersphere on Sunday evening after the non-profit media outlet, partially funded by the US government, ignited outrage from conservatives for using a seemingly misleading cover photo to promote a story alleging a surge in attacks by “right-wing extremists” using vehicles to ram into protesters.
An initial version of the story, titled “Vehicle Attacks Rise As Extremists Target Protesters,” featured an image from footage showing a group of about a dozen people surrounding an SUV. One person can be seen standing in front of the car, as if almost leaning against the hood.
It did not take long for internet sleuths, however, to point out that the cover pic, which was supposed to serve as an example of right-wing violence against peaceful protesters, has a controversial backstory to it.
The surveillance footage from the scene, the source of the photo in question, shows a protester standing with a megaphone right in front of the vehicle, blocking the road.
“You falsely accused a crime victim of being a terrorist. Enjoy the lawsuits!” political commentator Mike Cernovich wrote.
“This driver needs to get a lawyer and sue NPR,” Stephen L. Miller, host of the Versus Media Podcast, who has also contributed to Fox News and several other media outlets, wrote.
Responding to the backlash, NPR replaced the cover photo and issued an editor’s note, saying that the photo originally chosen to illustrate the piece “does not appear to be an example of the assaults described in the story.”
“Police have not charged the driver, but have charged two of the protesters involved in that incident,” it said.
Many critics, however, are not satisfied with NPR’s response, calling it out for pretending they did nothing wrong and urging the station to issue an apology.