CNN Reporter Fumes as LAPD Pushes News Crew Away From Protest’s Front Line

CNN national correspondent Nick Watts fumed at Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers during a live on-air report on the city’s protests as he was repeatedly interrupted and told to back away from the front line.

Protests across Los Angeles were in their fifth day, started in response to ICE raids across the city on Friday. As disorder grew, President Donald Trump ordered National Guard troops in on Sunday morning to provide support to police and then sent in Marines just days later.

The LAPD declared Downtown LA an “unlawful assembly” zone as demonstrators and police engage in running battles, which have seen at least two journalists hit by rubber bullets.

On Wednesday evening, as Watt attempted to broadcast live on-the-ground from a protest, he grew increasingly frustrated as police officers asked him and his crew to move back.

The reporter detailed the upcoming curfew deadline: “These are local Los Angeles police forces and right now they have the protesters pegged up there. Now, as you mentioned, the curfew is due to kick in at 8 p.m., local time – that’s 11 p.m. on the East Coast. What we saw last night when the curfew kicked in was the LAPD very methodically, very slowly moved in and did begin making arrests. They-”

After being cut off by one police officer, Watt could be heard responding: “Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, OK, OK, OK. So the police are asking us now to move even further back. They’ve been… this has been a constant all day of them moving us out of the way. So let’s just come back down here just a little bit.”

Unimpressed with his new positioning, he continued his report: “So as you see… We’re now shooting straight into the sun. So it’s very difficult for you to see what’s going on here, Abby. But right now, more LAPD officers just massing, facing off against these protesters.”

He added: “So far today, the protests have been pretty calm. There has not been violence. The police are clearly getting a little anxious.”

Watt then detailed how the officers “threw” a man riding a bicycle too close to the police line but “not in a threatening manner.”

The journalist was interrupted again by another officer pushing his team back further, at which point he snapped back: “I mean, OK, we’ve listened to everything that you’ve said, OK? We’ve listened to everything you’ve said. OK?”

Speaking to the host in the studio, he jabbed at the constant instructions: “So again, the police don’t appear to know where they want us to be because they keep on telling us to move. Just another sign of just the kind of anxiety levels that have risen here. OK, this whole phalanx is now moving in as we are getting pushed further back.”

“There’s no point in arguing with the police at this point,” he added.

Watch above via CNN.

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