CNN has faced backlash for their recent report claiming Democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, traditionally garners votes in states that are "largely white and rural", thereby whitewashing his ethnically-diverse voters and erasing his support in their communities.
CNN's broadcasting has been accussed of inconsistency. Earlier this year, the news station called the state of Alaska "the most diverse place in America". However following Sanders win last Sunday, they referred to the state as being "largely white and rural".
In Alaska, he was winning by nearly 60 percentage points with 73 percent of the delegates in at 6:40 p.m. ET. In Washington state, he was ahead by more than 50 points with 31 percent of the delegates in. If that margin holds, he’ll outpace then-Sen. Barack Obama’s performance in Washington in 2008. These caucus states — largely white and rural — are the type of places Sanders traditionally does well. In order to win the nomination, he must replicate this success in other, more ethnically diverse states that hold primaries, as he did in Michigan last month. -CNN Report. Sunday, March 28, 2016
In response, Sanders supporters have highlighted their resentment of being whitewashed with the hashtag #BernieMadeMeWhite.
Despite a tongue-in-cheek tone, the trend has highlighted the flippant reporting on CNN's part and the networks' reliance on an existing but innacurate narrative.
Bernie Sanders' record on race and racial justice has been a focus during his campaign, as several of his rallies were interrupted by Black Lives Matter protestors.
He also has a history of publish protest for civil rights, and photos of his arrest during a 1982 protest against segregation in Chicago public schools.
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