The cable networks went into overdrive this evening with the news that George Zimmerman was in police custody and charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Fox News, MSNBC and CNN carried the remarks from Angela Corey, the special prosecutor in the case.
The news broke at 6pmET, when the Rev. Al Sharpton would normally be hosting his “Politics Nation” show on MSNBC. Instead, Sharpton was appearing with Martin’s family in Washington, DC applauding the bringing of a criminal charge, thanking those who kept up the fight, even commending Florida’s governor Rick Scott. MSNBC and CNN carried the remarks from Sharpton who had said from the beginning that he would continue his fight for justice, whether on his MSNBC show, or through other venues. Martin Bashir sat in for Sharpton tonight.
While CNN and MSNBC were in rolling coverage of the news conferences, Fox News mostly stayed with “Special Report,” during which correspondent James Rosen reported on Sharpton’s National Action Network gathering on race relations in Washington.
The charge filed against Zimmerman was the lead story on the three evening newscasts.