Fox News reporter Jonathan Hunt reported from the CHAZ on Monday, saying the area was peaceful despite a recent video being released that shows a news crew from Fox’s Seattle affiliate getting harassed and assaulted.
Fox News reporter Jonathan Hunt reported from the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) on Monday, telling viewers that the area was peaceful despite the recent release of video that shows a news crew from Fox's Seattle affiliate suffering harassment by protestors. This comes after police abandoned the East Police Precinct to protestors turned occupiers.
The video shows a reporter, Brandi Kruse, being harassed and tormented for reporting within the area. The insults and abuse of her and her crew left Kruse terrified and in tears.
Yet Hunt claimed that the area was peaceful, with several hundred people staying within the occupied area at all times, reaping the benefit of food services and city provided water and medical supplies.
Hunt addressed the business owners within the occupied area, saying that he had spoken with several of them and that they generally supported the protests and endorse the efforts by demonstrators in pushing for police reform.
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View on YouTubeBut Hunt's analysis is inconsistent with what has already been revealed and reported on within the occupied area which has been home to many crimes including violent assaults.
On June 8—one week before Hunt insisted that the CHAZ was peaceful—Fox's Seattle affiliate sent a crew inside the CHAZ to report on what was going on, but were immediately harassed by occupiers dressed in black bloc.
The occupiers immediately condemned Fox News as "Republican" and assured reporter Brandi Kruse's crew that they would be interrupting the segment as much as possible.
Kruse shared the incident via Facebook on Wednesday, saying: "RAW VIDEO: Q13 News crew mobbed in Seattle want you to see this," she began. "I hope you will watch every minute so you can feel the fear we felt. So you can hear my tears at the end. This video was taken Monday, June 8, the night Seattle left the East Police Precinct to protesters."
"Our crew was targeted, stalked, harassed, and assaulted," Kruse reported. "The level of vitriol from one member of the mob, who claimed she was a 'social worker,' was like nothing I've ever experienced. When elected leaders lump this type of behavior into what they’re calling 'peaceful,' not only is it a lie, but it's deeply offensive to those who have been subjected to it. I hope this video is spread widely. Seattle needs to do better."
I want you to see this. I hope you will watch every minute so you can feel the fear we felt. So you can hear my tears at the end. This video was taken Monday, June 8, the night Seattle left the East Police Precinct to protesters. Our crew was targeted, stalked, harassed, and assaulted. The level of vitriol from one member of the mob, who claimed she was a "social worker," was like nothing I've ever experienced. When elected leaders lump this type of behavior into what they’re calling “peaceful," not only is it a lie, but it's deeply offensive to those who have been subjected to it. I hope this video is spread widely. Seattle needs to do better.
WARNING: Explicit language.
Posted by Brandi Kruse on Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Occupiers tried to force Kruse and her crew to turn around. They hurled obscenities, spat at them, and held up the middle finger to the camera that continued rolling throughout the incident.
At one point in the video, Kruse appears to be struck with an object and identifies a female occupier in the background as the one who assaulted her.
The Post Millennial reached out to Fox News for comment, but did not hear back before time of publication.
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