CNN host Don Lemon warned of dire consequences if lawmakers don’t adopt changes advocated by activists protesting the death of George Floyd.
As CNN’s cable prime-time lineup transitioned from hosts Chris Cuomo to Don Lemon on Tuesday, the two discussed the network’s coverage of nationwide protests that began over one week ago after Floyd’s death, with Lemon warning Cuomo that a lack of response to the demonstrations can “fuel insurrection.”
“We’ve never done it by just a conversation and a pat on the back. It doesn’t mean insurrection. It doesn’t mean civil war. It means passion that fuels anger that fuels change,” Cuomo asserted, but Lemon disagreed.
“The thing is, Chris, it does mean insurrection,” Lemon said, adding, “It means insurrection when people get tired if no one listens. Then it fuels insurrection, you understand what I’m saying?”
“After a while, people say, ‘Look, I’m tired of this. I’m tired of it, and either you let me in, you understand me. I’m gonna force my way into the conversation. Force my way into the system. I’m gonna demand that you let me into the house,’ meaning — I’m talking about — you get what I’m saying, the metaphorical house,” he continued. “And you’re going to have to do it, and people aren’t going to like it. So, why can’t we all figure out how to do it now instead of an insurrection that happens because no one wants to change?”
Earlier Tuesday, Cuomo disagreed with the belief that protests need to be “polite and peaceful,” asserting the problems were the underlying conditions that prompted protests.
“Please, show me where it says that protests are supposed to be polite and peaceful,” he said. “Because I can show you that outraged citizens are what made the country what she is and led to any major milestone. To be honest, this is not a tranquil time.”
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects freedoms of expression, does extend protections for “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.”
Several users on Twitter criticized Cuomo for his assertion, including Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son.
“Here’s @CNN’s @ChrisCuomo carrying water for violent criminals burning down communities and saying that he doesn’t think protests are supposed to be “peaceful.” Imagine saying that less than a day since Captain David Dorn was killed in cold blood by looters? Truly disgusting,” Trump Jr. tweeted.
CNN’s Chris Cuomo: “Please, show me where it says protesters are supposed to be polite and peaceful.”
As riots and looting have broken out in cities across the country, this is the message the brother of New York governor Andrew Cuomo shares at the top of his show. pic.twitter.com/ZZ47zpyVlx
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 3, 2020
During a speech at the White House Rose Garden Monday, Trump threatened to send military troops into states himself by invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807 if governors failed to stop the growing wave of unrest that has occurred over the past week.
“If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents,” he said, “then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”
The last time the law was invoked was in 1991, when violent riots broke out in Los Angeles, California, over the beating of Rodney King by police officers. Prior to that, it was used in 1989 after widespread looting began in the Virgin Islands following Hurricane Hugo.
