CNN host Van Jones said on-air Wednesday that there should be a “national moratorium” on nighttime Black Lives Matter protests.
The video: Jones, appearing on CNN’s “New Day,” said violence associated with racial justice protests in U.S. cities is “all advantage Trump.”
Jones, a political commentator who hosts CNN’s “The Van Jones Show,” said the media’s focus on riots and looting is distracting from issues that could hurt President Donald Trump.
- “Very perilous”: “I think it’s time for us to recognize we are in a very perilous situation if you want to see a change in November,” Jones said, referring to a victory by the Democratic presidential nominee.
- Night moves: “I think that Joe Biden can actually begin to move his own movement in a better direction. We need a national moratorium on these nighttime marches. That would separate the responsible, productive demonstrations that have united the whole world from some of these other demonstrations that are just not as useful.”
- It’s the economy, stupid: “We’ve got to get off of this conversation around unrest and back to the conversation around literally millions of people who are suffering from the Trump economy and the mishandling of the virus,” Jones concluded.
Biden does not currently hold public office, and it was unclear whom Jones wanted to implement the prohibition on nighttime protests.
Are the tides turning? Public support for the Black Lives Matter movement surged after the May 25 death of George Floyd, but it has gravitated toward prior levels as street violence has dragged on and violent crime has risen in many cities.
- The Republican National Convention’s emphasis on law and order last week overlapped with a pair of deadly and headline-making shootings at protests in Portland, Oregon, and Kenosha, Wisconsin.
- A Politico/Morning Consult poll released Wednesday found support for the protesters among voters has dipped by 9 points, to just over 50%.
While it is not yet clear how the trend will affect the 2020 election, Jones’ fears are shared by many other prominent liberals.
- Last week, CNN anchor Don Lemon said Biden needed to give a speech denouncing the violence and blaming Trump for it, which the candidate did on Monday.
- Biden’s campaign said he plans to hold a “community meeting” in Kenosha on Thursday following Trump’s visit to the city on Tuesday.
- Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s departing counselor, said on Thursday, “The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who’s best on public safety and law and order.”
