‘Fiery but mostly peaceful’: CNN torn apart over ‘embarrassing’ caption

The internet has gone into meltdown over a CNN caption on a report showing a building fully engulfed in flames in a riot-hit US city.

CNN is getting roasted for describing protests in the US state of Wisconsin as “fiery but mostly peaceful” during a live broadcast – while a building behind the reporter was engulfed in flames.

The words: “Fiery but mostly peaceful protests after police shooting,” appeared on screen as CNN reporter Omar Jimenez delivered a live report in Kenosha.

“What you’re seeing behind me is one of multiple locations that have been burning in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the course of the night,” Mr Jimenez said, with a gas mask around his neck.

RELATED: Gunman fires on Jacob Blake protesters in Kenosha

There is currently a curfew in place in Kenosha, which protesters are ignoring.

RELATED: Death of Jacob Blake spark protests

He went on to note that the daytime protests were “largely peaceful” but took a violent turn at night.

“It wasn’t until night fell that things began to get a little bit more contentious. Things were thrown back and forth. Police started using some of those crowd dispersal tactics like tear gas, even playing very loud sounds to push them out,” Jimenez said.

The clip was ripped on social media, including by Eric Trump, who tweeted, “Unbelievable. @CNN is a total embarrassment to our country!” and GOP rapid response director Steve Guest, who also posted the video.

Here are some of the responses on Twitter.

Thank you @CNN for this impartial and cogent reportage. 👏

It is the mark of a healthy democracy that protesters are able to peacefully throw bricks at police and burn buildings in a peaceful way. pic.twitter.com/mGpKtzGkK3

— Titania McGrath (@TitaniaMcGrath) August 27, 2020

#CNN in Kenosha Just "mostly peaceful protests" pic.twitter.com/QK9peJ17Ps

— GrrrGraphics Cartoons (@GrrrGraphics) August 27, 2020

Latest from CNN #CNN #HurricaneLaura pic.twitter.com/h25Km3Qy0p

— Kevin Phillips Bong (@K_Phillips_Bong) August 27, 2020

Riots have rocked Kenosha since the shooting of Jacob Blake on Sunday.

The 29-year-old African-American man was shot seven times by a white police officer while trying to get into his SUV.

The demonstrations took a deadly turn late Tuesday, when an armed teen allegedly shot and killed two men and injured a third.

Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, of Antioch, Illinois, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide.

A night after the protesters were shot dead, hundreds of demonstrators snubbed a curfew to march 10km through the Wisconsin city’s downtown area chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No Peace”.

But turbulence spread to other cities, with police and protesters clashing in Minneapolis and Los Angeles as anger mounted over repeated incidents of police mistreatment of African-Americans.

Vice President Mike Pence, addressing the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, rejected allegations of endemic police racism and painted the protests as a threat to Americans, condemning “the violence and chaos engulfing cities across this country”.

Protests have now spread to other cities. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP

Mr Pence accused President Donald Trump’s election rival Joe Biden of supporting action that had led to the unrest and attacks on police.

“Joe Biden would double down on the very policies that are leading to unsafe streets and violence in America’s cities,” he said.

Players in the NBA and WNBA, the women’s pro basketball league, forced the postponement of playoff games on Wednesday after the Milwaukee Bucks, whose home base is close to Kenosha, walked out.

“Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball,” Bucks players said in a statement.

With NY Post and AFP