Graham: Left-wing journalists big on ‘ICE resistance’
In the wake of the Capitol riots in January 2021, the national media took a firm stance against those who exhibited disrespect toward law enforcement and the rule of law, particularly focusing on the actions of Trump supporters. Organizations like the “Sedition Hunters” gained attention for their role in assisting the Justice Department in prosecuting individuals involved in the insurrection. However, a striking contrast has emerged as the political landscape shifted, particularly with the current administration in power. Critics argue that media outlets, such as National Public Radio (NPR), have adopted a different narrative, seemingly favoring groups that challenge law enforcement, especially regarding immigration enforcement. This shift is exemplified in the work of Odette Yousef, NPR’s “Domestic Extremism Correspondent,” who has been accused of downplaying the actions of leftist activists while amplifying their narratives.
In a series of reports, Yousef highlighted the efforts of groups like Protect Rogers Park, which she described as a “community defense network” opposing federal immigration enforcement. According to Yousef, their mission is to disrupt Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, making them as “inefficient” as possible. This portrayal raised eyebrows, especially given the previous media scrutiny of similar tactics employed by right-wing activists. For instance, while Yousef characterized leftist activism as a courageous stand against an “authoritarian strategy,” critics argue that the same lens is not applied to right-wing groups, such as those protesting at abortion clinics. The inconsistency in media framing has led to accusations of bias, with conservative commentators expressing their dissatisfaction with NPR’s coverage and its perceived lack of balance.
The controversy surrounding NPR’s portrayal of these activist groups underscores a broader debate about media bias and the role of journalism in a polarized political climate. Critics like Tim Graham from the Media Research Center have pointed out that NPR’s framing of leftist activism as noble and necessary contrasts sharply with how right-wing actions are depicted. This disparity has fueled calls for accountability and transparency in media reporting, particularly regarding the portrayal of activism and its implications for law enforcement and societal norms. As the conversation continues, the question remains: how can media outlets strive for objectivity in an increasingly divided landscape, and what responsibilities do they hold in shaping public perception of activism across the political spectrum?
After some Trump supporters rioted at the Capitol in 2021, the national media aggressively reported on people who showed disrespect for the Capitol Police and for the rule of law itself. They touted groups like “Sedition Hunters” who aided Biden’s Justice Department in prosecuting Trump backers inside the Capitol, the violent and the nonviolent.
But now, with the parties in power switched, suddenly it’s the media who favor “sedition,” in disrespecting law enforcement and the rule of law itself, especially on mass deportation. Exhibit A is National “Public” Radio and Odette Yousef, NPR’s so-called “Domestic Extremism Correspondent.”
In January 2022, Yousef touted the “Sedition Hunters” for seven minutes, never once classifying them as on the Left. They were “independent researchers” and “online sleuths.”
These days, it’s somehow not “domestic extremism” when radical leftists seek to undermine attempts to enforce immigration laws and capture illegal immigrants, both the violent and the nonviolent. Instead, Yousef and NPR championed the “ICE Resistance” in two days of reports lasting 15 minutes on the badly named show “All Things Considered.”
Yousef chronicled a group called Protect Rogers Park, a “community defense network,” and went riding around with “community organizer” Gabe Gonzalez. They banded together against “an expected onslaught of federal immigration enforcement.” Their goal? “To make the work of immigration enforcement as inefficient as possible.” No one was identified as the Left.
NPR also interviewed activist Jill Garvey and described her take: Their project is opposing “an authoritarian strategy that, unchecked, could ultimately eat away at the freedom and rights of everyone in this country.” Garvey claimed Trump is forming a “national police force” to “occupy” and “terrorize” cities. None of this is pernicious conspiracy theorizing or “domestic extremism.”
On the night of Nov. 20, Yousef leaked out one label about Protect Rogers Park: “It’s known for its international diversity and as kind of a hotbed for lefty activism.” Yousef said the group’s goal was “getting people to the scene of an ICE arrest to make it annoying — you know, loud, slow, and ultimately expensive.”
In this second report, Gonzalez claimed ICE’s goal is “kidnapping people.” Yousef allowed a brief rebuttal from the Department of Homeland Security: “Illegal aliens are not kidnapped. They are arrested for breaking the law.”
NPR wrapped up with Garvey touting their work to “protect vulnerable people” with “a little bit of contagious courage.”
This is not how NPR would describe right-wingers blocking an entrance to an abortion clinic. You could describe that activism as “protecting vulnerable people” with “contagious courage.” It’s designed to be loud and make abortion clinics “as inefficient as possible.” But that’s not heroic at NPR. Performing the abortions is heroic.
This is why conservative taxpayers are happy that NPR was defunded. They’ve never “considered all things.”
Tim Graham is director of media analysis at the Media Research Center and executive editor of the blog NewsBusters.org.
