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Thousands protest anti-China remarks outside CNN
2008-04-20
Up to five thousand people gathered Saturday in front of the Hollywood offices of CNN to protest disparaging remarks about China made by one of the channel's commentators, police said. The demonstration came as pro-China protests were held across the world against what they see as disinformation of the Western media over China's recent crackdown in Tibet, which has proved a public relations disaster ahead of August's Beijing Olympics. Police Sergeant David Torres said "between 2,000 and 5,000" people equipped with megaphones and signs were protesting Saturday, but said that despite turning up unannounced, there were no incidents and they dispersed by midday. The building housing CNN is on the famous Sunset Boulevard in north-west Los Angeles, and is where the channel's veteran presenter, Larry King, is based. The Beijing government took CNN to task this week after outspoken commentator Jack Cafferty slammed China for exporting unsafe products, which he called "junk with lead paint," as well as Beijing's massive purchases of US securities. "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years," Cafferty said of China in an April 9 broadcast. The Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday rejected a CNN explanation that his comments -- which caused a huge outcry in China -- were aimed at the government, and not the Chinese people.
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