CNN news crew attacked while covering Minnesota police protests

A CNN crew member collapsed after being hit in the head by a water bottle while covering the protests over the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn City, Minn., Wednesday night.

The attack was captured on video and posted to Twitter by Nicholas Rowan, a Washington Examiner staff writer.

“Protesters threw a water bottle at a CNN crew member and hit him square on the head. They mock him when he falls down,” Rowan tweeted.

Protesters throw a water bottle at a CNN crew member and hit him square on the head. They mock him when he falls down. pic.twitter.com/cBfRN9DJOj

— Nic Rowan (@NicXTempore) April 15, 2021

The crew member, working with CNN senior national correspondent Miguel Marquez, was hit by the water bottle as he attempted to reason with protesters who were accosting the network’s journalists.

After he recovered from the blow, at least one person called for a medic. The protesters ultimately chased the CNN crew off, throwing eggs at them and their vehicle as they drove away.

Protesters just chased the entire CNN crew away from the police precinct. pic.twitter.com/r6TGmnBxIH

— Nic Rowan (@NicXTempore) April 15, 2021

Marquez later tweeted that his crew was OK.

My team and I are fine and I appreciate your concern. I hope for equal justice under the law and will continue to report on this vital story as it unfolds.

— Miguel Marquez (@miguelmarquez) April 15, 2021

CNN and Marquez did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Hill.

Dozens of people have been arrested in Brooklyn Center as police try to enforce curfews and disperse crowds gathering to protest Wright’s death. The officer who fatally shot Wright, Kim Potter, was charged on Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter. Authorities said she meant to fire a Taser at Wright instead of her service weapon while trying to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.

On Monday evening, CNN reporter Sara Sidner was confronted by a demonstrator during the protests.

“Y’all be twisting up the stories and shit,” a man walked up and said to Sidner during a live report from Brooklyn Center. “All the press and all the extra shit y’all do makes this worse.”

The man told her the media was “doing all the extra shit for the backhand shit and making people look all crazier than what the f— they are.”