#Madison Cawthorn’s standup moment at RNC a ‘rebuke’ of protests, reporter says

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Yamiche Alcindor and Madison Cawthorn during his RNC speech last night
Getty Images for Politicon; 2020 RNC/Handout via REUTERS

PBS political reporter Yamiche Alcindor caught flak on Twitter for describing Madison Cawthorn’s rising from his wheelchair at the 2020 Republican National Convention as a “direct rebuke” of protests against police brutality.

Cawthorn — a 25-year-old North Carolinian on track to become the youngest person elected to Congress in modern history — capped a stirring RNC address Wednesday night by getting up from his wheelchair with the help of two aides while reciting the closing words of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Live-tweeting the event, Alcindor described the move as a counterpoint to demonstrations against police brutality and prejudice, on a day that saw the NBA and other sports leagues cancel games in protest of the Kenosha, Wis., shooting that left Jacob Blake like Cawthorn, paralyzed from the waist down.

“Madison Cawthorn made it a point to stand, suggesting that all Americans to (sic) should stand during the pledge of allegiance & national anthem,” she wrote. “It was a direct rebuke of actions by ppl — including black athletes who are currently sitting out games — protesting police brutality.”

Shortly before standing, Cawthorn did suggest a contrast between the gesture and athletes’ protest of kneeling during the National Anthem.

“In this new town square, you don’t have to apologize for your beliefs or cower to a mob,” he said. “You can kneel before God, but stand for our flag.”

Still, Twitter users believed Alcindor went too far in connecting the two, accusing her of politicizing a moving moment during the RNC and picking on the handicapped Cawthorn.

“Or perhaps, and I’m just spitballing here, he just did what he felt like doing because he wanted to show his love for his country,” wrote one user in a reply to Alcindor’s tweet. “You know, freedom of expression and all.”

Wrote another, “I’m glad my mind isn’t wired like yours to hate every thing I see. You may feel warm and fuzzy when a millionaire kneels down but I felt tremendous pride when I saw that man stand last night for our country and flag. I’m genuinely sorry you couldn’t and won’t ever experience that.”

“Going after a guy paralyzed in a wheelchair? He’s got more stamina than you,” added Jon Nicosia, the president of News Cycle Media and a former editor at Mediaite and The Washington Examiner. “Probably why your (sic) so mad.”