CNN Headquarters Vandalized, Destroyed By Rioters In Atlanta As George Floyd “Protests” Spread

While the anger over George Floyd's death is certainly justified, the destruction and riots are not. 

Though Floyd's death happened in Minneapolis hundreds of miles away, riots erupted in Atlanta.

CNN itself confirmed that its headquarters were under attack by 7 pm on Friday night:

The front of CNN Center in Atlanta was the scene of violent protests on Friday evening that resulted in damage to the front of the building and inside.

The protests had started as peaceful earlier in the afternoon when crowds gathered in the city's famed Centennial Park. The protests were in response to the death of George Floyd, who was killed on May 25 in Minneapolis.

At around 6 p.m. ET, protesters began moving toward the front of the CNN Center, where police had gathered. Over the next few hours, the crowd swelled as SWAT was called in to help with crowd control.

By about 7 p.m. ET, protesters could be seen damaging CNN Center in downtown Atlanta, which is sandwiched between Philips Arena and Centennial Park.

Protesters were seen vandalizing CNN's logo outside its offices, breaking the building's glass and entering the center. Protesters were also heard chanting anti-media rhetoric.

Around 7:40 p.m., protesters could be seen destroying Atlanta Police Department vehicles parked in front of CNN.

Protesters entered the CNN Center and destroyed the interior of the building at about 9 p.m. ET. One man was seen breaking glass inside the center with a skateboard.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, during a news conference Friday night, spoke directly to the protesters: "You have defaced the CNN building. Ted Turner started CNN in Atlanta, 40 years ago because he believed in who we are as a city."

The destruction of the Atlanta headquarters was the latest blow to CNN.

The evening before, a CNN reporter and his crew were arrested in Minneapolis for reporting just feed away from the state police.

CNN appears to be "gaslighting" viewers.

As the headquarters in Atlanta were vandalized, CNN covered the protests in LA.

Later in the evening, a CNN reporter claimed that the Minneapolis protests were peaceful.

He appeared to be assaulted by a "protester" on live television:

The front of the CNN center is iconic.

The red CNN symbol is a tourist destination and photo opp for many people who visit LA.

Now, that symbol has been completely destroyed by rioters.

Fox News confirms the extensive damage:

A protest erupted at CNN's headquarters in Atlanta Friday amid nationwide demonstrations following the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd, with many of the protesters seen vandalizing the entrance of the building in videos posted to social media.

A crowd gathered in front of the CNN Center and grew over the course of several hours, initially breaking windows and spray-painting the CNN sign, and later throwing objects -- including what appeared to be a firecracker that exploded -- and reportedly shooting BB guns into the lobby.

The iconic CNN sign, a popular tourist destination in the downtown area, was covered with graffiti and others were seen jumping on top of the structure.

A CNN journalist captured footage of a window being shattered by the crowd, which can be heard sparking cheers.

Law enforcement eventually cleared the area, pushing the crowd further down the street.

Reporting from CNN correspondent Nick Valencia showed multiple police cars that were set ablaze and Georgia State Police entering the scene.

Instead of appearing to glorify the protesters, perhaps the news media should report these incidents as what they actually are: political riots.

It's fine to fight for justice.

But vandalizing property and stealing goods are crimes. 

These were not tactics used by Martin Luther King Jr.

The media and the rioters should both be ashamed of themselves.