Geraldo Rivera was broadcasting live from the Baltimore protests when he was confronted by a group of angry protesters who called him out about the way Fox News is covering the sometimes violent demonstrations.
In a clip that has now gone viral, Rivera was trying to conduct an interview with Maryland State Senator Catherine Pugh when angry protesters taking to the streets after the death of Freddie Gray started to grow vocal. A group surrounded Rivera and began shouting, and as he tried to start the interview one man stood in front of the camera.
Geraldo Rivera grew angry, trying to push the man out of the way and shouting at him to get out of the way of the camera, but the man refused to move.
“You’re making a fool of yourself! You’re making a fool of yourself!” an angry Rivera shouted.
The same man had explained his frustrations to Rivera before the Fox News host went on the air, explaining that the cable news network did not seem to care about reporting on the root causes of Baltimore’s unrest, but only about the rioting and damage caused.
“I want you and Fox News to get out of Baltimore City, because you are not here reporting about the boarded up homes and the homeless people under MLK,” the man told Geraldo. “You’re not reporting about the poverty levels up and down North Avenue…. But you’re here for the black riots that happen…. you’re not here for the death of Freddie Gray.” When Geraldo Rivera went on-air after the confrontation, he described the crowds as “excited,” which immediately angered many of them.
Baltimore has seen several days of protests after the death of Freddie Gray, who was arrested by police after a short chase. Witnesses said Gray appeared to be having a serious medical crisis, but he was not treated at the scene. He later collapsed and was taken to a hospital, where he died several days later. Family members said Gray had a broken neck and crushed voice box.
After the on-air confrontation , Sen. Pugh told Rivera that the cameras were inciting the crowd, and the two moved away to finish the interview.
The next day, Geraldo Rivera went back on Fox News and called the protester “annoying” and said he was showing “exactly that kind of youthful anarchy that led to the destruction and pain in that community.”
[Image via YouTube]