A Fox News host reported 'evidence' of division within the leadership of a Seattle protest camp, without realizing that she was re...
A Fox News host reported 'evidence' of division within the leadership of a Seattle protest camp, without realizing that she was reading a reference to comedy series Monty Python.
Martha MacCallum, host of Fox News show The Story, updated her viewers on Friday night on developments in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) - a six-block area of central Seattle where Black Lives Matter protesters have pushed out police.
On Friday night, Fox News showed an image of a Reddit post entitled: 'I didn't vote for Raz' - a reference to Raz Simone, the rapper who is an unofficial leader of the settlement.
MacCallum said that the post suggested 'infighting among some of the occupiers and some signs of rebellion against Raz Simone.'
She quoted the post as saying: 'I didn't vote for Raz - I thought we had an anonymous collective.
'An anarcho-syndicalist commune at the least, we should take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.'
But Fox News bosses appeared to miss that the post was almost word-for word quoted from 1975 comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Fox News on Friday night discussed a Reddit post entitled 'I didn't vote for Raz' - suggesting that it was a sign of division within the Seattle protest camp. In fact it is a Monty Python joke
WATCH: Our own @shelbytalcott appeared on @marthamaccallum to talk about her experience reporting from Seattle's autonomous zone.
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In the film, two peasants, played by Terry Jones and Michael Palin, say they are members of 'an autonomous collective.'
'We’re an anarcho-syndicalist commune,' says Palin's character.
'We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.
'But all the decision of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting. By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs, but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more major issues.'
After seemingly missing the blunder, MacCallum cut to a report from inside CHAZ.
Social media erupted with amusement at the Fox News segment.
'Did Fox just get punked?' one person tweeted.
A second noted that John Cleese, who plays The Black Knight in the much-loved 1975 comedy, would be highly amused by the confusion.
The CHAZ was established on June 8, after protesters took over Capitol Hill's East Precinct building, sending members of the Seattle Police Department fleeing.
Since then a sort of collective has formed, to the concern of Donald Trump and his allies.
Raz Simone, the unofficial leader of the Seattle protest camp, is pictured talking to police chief Carmen Best. The camp, known as CHAZ, has infuriated Donald Trump and his supporters
The entrance to the Capital Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle
The area was claimed by activists on June 9 following a series of stand-offs with police
For nearly a week, hundreds of people opposing police brutality and racial injustice have turned a Seattle neighborhood into CHAZ, which has become ground zero for their protests, creating a carnival-like atmosphere with speakers and drum circles near a largely abandoned police station.
While protesters say it shows how people can manage without police intervention, it’s drawn scorn from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to ‘go in’ to stop the ‘anarchists’ he says have taken over the liberal city after officers withdrew to ease tensions.
Signs along the sidewalks proclaim ‘You are entering free Capitol Hill’ and ‘No cop co-op.’
Throughout the day, speakers use microphones to discuss their demands.
Artists have painted a block-long ‘Black Lives Matter’ mural on the street. Many businesses are still open.
The area covers around six blocks of downtown Seattle, surrounding an abandoned precinct
While there are makeshift barricades that block the area to vehicles, people walk in and out freely.
And some officers have been back during the week to check on the police station.
Washington’s governor and Seattle’s mayor, both Democrats, have rebuked Trump and say local officials are trying to find a peaceful resolution following demonstrations that turned violent last weekend.
The occupiers of CHAZ come from a variety of groups and interests, ranging from Black Lives Matter organizers to labor and neighborhood groups.
Most want the police precinct to be turned into a community center and much of the department’s funding to be redirected to health and social services.
‘What you see out here is people coming together and loving each other,’ said Mark Henry Jr. of Black Lives Matter.
‘I see people coming from different walks of life ... learning from each other.’
In a series of tweets, Trump has taunted Governor Jay Inslee and Durkan and said Seattle had been taken over by ‘anarchists.’
‘These Liberal Dems don’t have a clue. The terrorists burn and pillage our cities, and they think it is just wonderful, even the death. Must end this Seattle takeover now!’ Trump tweeted Friday.
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