CNN Reporter Sara Sidner Hit In Head With Rock While Doing Live Shoot In Ferguson

CNN reporter Sara Sidner is in Ferguson, Missouri, covering the protests in the wake of the announcement of the grand jury’s decision not to charge police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. During a live shoot Sidner was hit with a rock.

Sidner was pointing out the many buildings that protesters have set on fire, explaining to CNN viewers that you can hear explosions when she was struck in the head. The 42-year-old veteran journalist reacted instinctively and ducked. She briefly held her head with her right hand after the assault was caught on camera

“I’m okay, I’ve been hit with much worse in my day,” Sidner answered when Jake Tapper asked her if she was okay.

Sidner shook off the incident and continued with her live coverage about what was taking place around her. However, Tapper interrupted and asked her to get out of the area to ensure she was reporting from a safer location, reports Mediate.com.

“I see other rocks going into the picture there. There are obviously some really bad people near you and we want to get you to safety,” Tapper said.

Sidner returned to the air a few minutes later, but technical difficulties with her camera prevented her from continuing the live stream for CNN.

Stephanie Elam, another CNN reporter, had debris thrown at her by a group of protesters outside of McDonald’s. Elam and her crew left the area. Sidner didn’t back down as easily, as she continued her broadcast on West Florissant Avenue, in the very heart of the chaos. While she was live on air a Auto Zone store was in flames in the background

“I just have a little bump on my head,” she said later in the night.

Sidner is not the only TV correspondent who has been attacked on air. Earlier in the night, CNN’s Don Lemmon was overcome by a gas he interpreted to be tear gas, reports CBSlocal.com. The violence that has erupted in Ferguson goes against the wishes of Michael Brown’s parents who pleaded that there is peace.

“This is crazy. I mean, this doesn’t do anything. They’re not going to rebuild, it’s just going to be a ghost town pretty soon,” one resident told CNN.

Gov. Jay Nixon ordered more National Guardsmen be sent to Ferguson. The Guard is currently providing security for the Ferguson police department.

Firefighters responded to businesses that were set on fire by protesters, but left the scene when gunfire rang out. They did not return.

The unrest in Ferguson continues with no real end in sight.