Two thousand demonstrators gathered Saturday outside the Los Angeles offices of Cable News Network to denounce disparaging remarks about China by a CNN commentator.
The protesters demanded that CNN dismiss Jack Cafferty. During an on-air discussion of Chinese-U.S. relations earlier this month, the New York-based analyst called Chinese goods "junk" and said the Chinese were a "bunch of goons and thugs."
Four days later, CNN issued a clarification, saying Cafferty's "goons and thugs" comment was meant to refer to the Chinese government, not the Chinese people.
China's Foreign Ministry said (4/16) the network's statement was not a sincere apology, and a spokeswoman accused CNN of trying to sow discord between the Chinese government and its people.
Los Angeles police said the demonstrators on Saturday made their point peacefully and dispersed without incident.