MSNBC has received blowback after one of its reporters attempted to downplay the violent riots in Minneapolis Thursday night, claiming they were "mostly a protest," even as a fire raged behind him.
MSNBC host and reporter Ali Velshi was reporting live from the streets of Minneapolis Thursday night, where St. Paul police say more than 170 businesses were vandalized and looted, with dozens more set on fire.
As one of those buildings burned directly behind him, Velshi did his best to sugar coat things.
"I want to be clear on how I characterize this," Velshi said. "This is mostly a protest. It is not generally speaking unruly."