Media, Hollywood paint Virginia rally as ‘extremist’ & violent despite its uneventful nature

Talking heads in the media and Hollywood tried to paint the pro-Second Amendment supporters in Richmond, Virginia as racist or potentially violent, creating a much gloomier image than the one that transpired in reality.

Folks walking around the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond with semi-automatic weapons strapped over their shoulders had anti-gun activists up in arms and concerned, but the pro-Second Amendment protest — which was against new anti-gun measures proposed by Governor Ralph Northam — ended up being quite peaceful.

‘Westworld’ actor Jeffrey Wright was similarly bothered by the gun-wielding protesters. He tweeted that the protest was “gun circle jerk” and said it had a “Klan-like rally smell” to it. This is despite the fact that plenty of videos and pictures showed minorities protesting for gun rights too.

The organizers aren’t at all bothered that a gun circle jerk in Richmond, VA on #MLKDay has a Klan-rally smell to it? Wonder why. https://t.co/1kq9pu1is1

— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) January 20, 2020

An attendee at the rally in Richmond Virginia dispels the media smears against rally-goers.

He says the media is mischaracterizing them, & that they are just law abiding citizens who want to advocate for their constitutional rights.#VirginiaRally
pic.twitter.com/Vp3bJX8eNi

— Michael Coudrey (@MichaelCoudrey) January 20, 2020

More pictures of people carrying rifles at the #VirginiaRally and more evidence that debunks the narrative that the rally is filled with racists and white supremacists. pic.twitter.com/V0jGLpKW2d

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 20, 2020

“This is what’s happening in Virginia right now. Trump’s America,” Democrat activist and ‘Charmed’ actress Alyssa Milano tweeted in response to a video of protesters showing up, sporting rifles and tactical gear.

This is what’s happening in Virginia right now. Trump’s America. #IStandWithVirginia pic.twitter.com/ewUfKrk6Qs

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) January 20, 2020

“This is NOT what the founders had in mind when writing the 2nd [Amendment]. THIS IS NOT MY AMERICA!” filmmaker Morgan J. Freeman wrote about the same video.

This is NOT what the founders had in mind when writing the 2nd Ammendment.

THIS IS NOT MY AMERICA!#IStandWithVirgina pic.twitter.com/nE1YZ63Ahv

— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) January 20, 2020

Mainstream media outlets got serious pushback from supporters of the rally and rally attendees for their coverage of the day’s events. 

MSNBC correspondent Gabe Gutierrez found himself in hot water when he tweeted a video of a large group of protesters saying the pledge of allegiance and captioned the video with: “Chants of ‘we will not comply’ from gun rights protesters in Richmond.”

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Since the audio in the video did not match what Gutierrez was saying, commentators like Ben Shapiro and Dana Loesch immediately descended on the man.

It’s the Pledge of Allegiance https://t.co/aWl9sb0bkg

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) January 20, 2020

“We all have ears, dude. That's not what they're chanting,” Shapiro tweeted.

Hours after his original post, Gutierrez posted the actual video of protesters chanting, “we will not comply.” This video was of a much smaller group and its delayed posting led to more criticism.

“This should have been first with the proper context. I see no problem with law-abiding Americans peacefully assembling, as is their right, stating that they will not comply with unlawful orders that rob them of constitutionally protected rights,” Loesch wrote in response to the new video.

This should have been first with the proper context.

I see no problem with law-abiding Americans peacefully assembling, as is their right, stating that they will not comply with unlawful orders that rob them of constitutionally protected rights. #VirginiaRally #Richmond2ARally https://t.co/Pl2QEA15u5

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) January 20, 2020

Gutierrez later found himself heckled while he was reporting on camera from the rally. One person interrupted his broadcast by saying, “Piece of s**t … F**k you!”

"Y'all a bunch of f***** liars, you lying pieces of s***."@MSNBC reporter @gabegutierrez heckled at the #VirginiaRally pic.twitter.com/4pQD3wRWRW

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 20, 2020

MSNBC, Huffington Post and other outlets promoted the idea that thousands of “extremists” and “white nationalists” would descend on Virginia in support of gun rights, the coverage ended up being a far cry from the predicted doom.

This headline from @HuffPost is delightfully vague. Any statistical breakdown on the crowd, or is it equally comprised of "pro-gun activists" and "far-right extremists"? pic.twitter.com/1mo0LQsFXF

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 20, 2020

FAKE NEWS -> @MSNBC's @CraigMelvin who just claimed that "thousands" of "white nationalists" and "militia groups" are "swarming the state capitol in Richmond" (along with "guns rights activists") #2A #LobbyDay2020 #VirginiaRally pic.twitter.com/9cgymITqe4

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 20, 2020

MSNBC reporter Ben Collins deleted a tweet where he called the rally a “white nationalist rally.”

Ben Collins has deleted his tweet that smeared the many good gun owners who will show up to Richmond tomorrow to advocate for their Second Amendment rights. pic.twitter.com/uK2aXeXj8n

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 19, 2020

CNN said ahead of the rally that the FBI was working with law enforcement to prepare for “threats of violence.” They later had to report that the event ended “peacefully.”

One video even showed protesters cleaning up after themselves as the rally came to a close.

Groups picking up trash off the road after the rally is over. #VirginiaRally #Virginia2A @ABC13News pic.twitter.com/RgMlQroE2N

— Caroline Eaker (@caroline_wset) January 20, 2020

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