CBS Edits Out Atlanta Mayor Saying Cops Blameless for Weekend Killing

July 7th, 2020 12:09 AM

Mr. Secoriya Williamson probably said it best when addressing the Fourth of July murder of his eight-year-old daughter, Secoriea Turner, in Atlanta: “They say black lives matter. You killed your own.”

His outrage at black-on-black crime was shared by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D), who exclaimed: “You can't blame this on a police officer. You can't say that we -- this is about criminal justice reform.” Her sentiment was broadcast to the country on the evening newscasts of ABC and NBC, but on CBS. But not only did the CBS Evening News not share her sentiment, but they cut out those words.

This is how CBS correspondent Mark Strassmann summed up Bottom’s comments in his report:

STRASSMANN: Charmaine Turner's daughter, Secoriea, her baby died in her arms on the Fourth of July. A group of armed men randomly blocked their car in Atlanta. Two gunmen opened fire. The 8-year-old girl was killed.

ATLANTA MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D): This is about some people carrying some weapons who shot up a car with an 8-year-old baby in the car. For what?

STRASSMAN: New York City on Sunday alone had 30 shootings.

Now, here’s Bottom’s comment as reported by correspondent Ron Allen on NBC Nightly News, with more context. “You can't blame this on a police officer. You can't say that we -- this is about criminal justice reform. This is about some people carrying some weapons who shot up a car with an eight-year-old baby in the car,” she said.

 

 

Lamenting black-on-black crime was key facet of Allen’s report. He also shared a soundbite of Williamson’s comment to the press.

Over on ABC’s World News Tonight, correspondent Steve Osunsami noted that “[s]o many of the dead this weekend are black children,” and framed the Atlanta incident as another tragic case of black-on-black crime:

OSUNSAMI: Atlanta's mayor says the shooters were black, and that it happened just outside this Wendy's parking lot, where 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was killed a month ago at the hands of a white police officer.

LANCE BOTTOMS:  Enough is enough. Enough is enough.

OSUNSAMI: The burned down restaurant has become a memorial for peaceful protest. But ever since, a group of people with long guns have taken over the area and blocked roads. Police are searching for the child's killer and today, finally moved in and took back the street.

BOTTOMS: We're fighting the enemy within, when we are shooting each other up on our streets.

Now, while all of these networks were reporting on the bloody holiday weekend in many major cities across the country, none of them mentioned the fact that these sad incidents occurred in cities wholly controlled by Democrats.

CBS’s editing manipulation was sponsored by Allstate. Their contact information is linked.

The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:

ABC’s World News Tonight
July 6, 2020
6:42:25 p.m. Eastern

DAVID MUIR: There was an eruption of gun violence over the holiday. Hundreds shot in Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and L.A. Dozens killed, including young children, caught in the cross fire. An 8-year-old in Atlanta. And that's where Steve Osunsami is tonight.

[Cuts to video]

STEVE OSUNSAMI: The numbers of American lives shattered by gunfire over the weekend are alarming. 77 people shot in Chicago. 14 of them died, including this 7-year-old. So many of the dead this weekend are black children. 11-year-old Devon McNeal was hit by a stray bullet on the way to a cookout in Washington, D.C. And in Atlanta, 8-year-old Secoriea Turner was killed by rounds of gunfire shot into a car.

[Mother crying]

OSUNSAMI: Atlanta's mayor says the shooters were black, and that it happened just outside this Wendy's parking lot, where 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was killed a month ago at the hands of a white police officer.

ATLANTA MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D):  Enough is enough. Enough is enough.

OSUNSAMI: The burned down restaurant has become a memorial for peaceful protest. But ever since, a group of people with long guns have taken over the area and blocked roads. Police are searching for the child's killer and today, finally moved in and took back the street.

BOTTOMS: We're fighting the enemy within, when we are shooting each other up on our streets.

(…)

CBS Evening News
July 6, 2020
6:41:27 p.m. Eastern

NORAH O’DONNELL: Over the Fourth of July weekend in cities across the country some people weren't sure whether they were hearing fireworks or gunshots. Emergency rooms were packed with dozens of people who had been shot. From the terrible outburst of violence, at least five people died. Here’s CBS's Mark Strassmann.

[Cuts to video]

CHARMAINE TURNER: We didn't mean no harm. My baby didn't mean no harm.

MARK STRASSMANN: Charmaine Turner's daughter Secoriea, her baby died in her arms on the Fourth of July. A group of armed men randomly blocked their car in Atlanta. Two gunmen opened fire. The 8-year-old girl was killed.

ATLANTA MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D): This is about some people carrying some weapons who shot up a car with an 8-year-old baby in the car. For what?

STRASSMANN: New York City on Sunday alone had 30 shootings. 48 people were shot. Ten of them killed. Philadelphia had 17 separate shootings on July 4. Chicago called out 1,200 extra cops for the holiday weekend. 87 people were shot, 17 fatally including 7-year-old Natalia Wallace.

SHELLEY FULTON: I saw my baby laying here. I never will be the same again.

STRASSMANN: Cross fire hit the little girl standing outside her grandmother's house. Finally, in Washington D.C., 11-year-old Davon McNeal's mother organized an antiviolence cookout. A stray bullet to his head killed the youth football star.

JOHN AYALA (McNeal’s grandfather):  It's going to be another young kid that is going to be shot and killed if we don't get out here and try to put a dent in it or stop it completely.

[Cuts back to live]

STRASSMANN: Here in Atlanta there were 31 gunshot victims over the holiday weekend. Georgia's governor declared a state of emergency because of the gun violence. He activated up to 1,000 National Guard troops to protect public buildings and potentially patrol city streets. Norah?

O’DONNELL: Mark Strassman, thank you.

NBC Nightly News
July 6, 2020
7:13:14 p.m. Eastern

(…)

RON ALLEN: A holiday weekend full of bloodshed and tears across the country. Dozens of victims, including innocent children. In Atlanta, an eight-year-old Secoriea Turner shot and killed while riding in the car with her mother, when Police say for still unknown reasons gunmen opened fire.

SECORIYA WILLIAMSON (Turner’s father): They say black lives matter. You killed your own.

ALLEN: Tonight, Georgia's governor declaring an emergency, activating up to 1,000 National Guard troops after weeks of vandalism and now gun violence.

ATLANTA MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D): It has to stop. [Transition] You can't blame this on a police officer. You can't say that we -- this is about criminal justice reform. This is about some people carrying some weapons who shot up a car with an eight-year-old baby in the car.

(…)