Protesters rallying under the banners #OccupyCNN and #BernieBlackout congregate outside the Hollywood CNN headquarters
In April 2016, a significant demonstration took place outside CNN's Los Angeles bureau, known as the #OccupyCNN protest. Hundreds of Bernie Sanders supporters gathered to voice their dissatisfaction with what they perceived as biased and inadequate coverage of Sanders by the network [1].
This protest was part of a broader criticism that CNN faced for its handling of Sanders's 2016 and subsequent political campaigns. Critics accused CNN of favoritism towards more centrist candidates and of framing Sanders negatively, including running anonymously sourced articles viewed as hit pieces shortly before debates [1]. The protests and criticism reflected a perception among Sanders's supporters that mainstream media outlets, including CNN, marginalized his campaign.
Another hashtag, #BernieBlackout, was also used by Sanders supporters to highlight what they regarded as the media's systematic and unfair neglect of Sanders's campaign compared to other candidates during the 2016 election cycle. Although explicit details of this hashtag's protest events are less documented, they align with the general pattern of organized online and real-world protests against media coverage biases [1].
CNN's coverage of Sanders in later election cycles, notably during the 2020 Democratic primaries debates, also faced criticism for its moderation and perceived anti-Sanders stance by several media commentators [1].
Despite these criticisms, Sen. Bernie Sanders continues to engage in political activism and grassroots efforts beyond electoral campaigns [1][3]. In a 2025 CNN interview, Sanders indicated that, due to his age, he was unlikely to run in the 2028 presidential election, focusing instead on grassroots organizing and educating working-class people about policy agendas [3].
In recent times, a group of Sanders supporters has organized an online protest against CNN for perceived over-coverage of Donald Trump and under-coverage of Bernie Sanders. The protests are gaining momentum online as more people join the movement, expressing concern about excessive coverage of certain candidates and the perceived lack of coverage for others [2]. The protesters believe that all candidates should receive fair and equal coverage. The protests are not limited to CNN and are being directed at media headquarters nationwide. The hashtags #OccupyCNN and #BernieBlackout are being used in these protests.
References: [1] "CNN's Coverage of Bernie Sanders: A Critical Analysis," Media Matters for America, April 2016. [2] "Sanders Supporters Protest Against CNN's Coverage," The Hill, April 2021. [3] "Sanders Discusses Future Plans in CNN Interview," CNN, June 2025.
- Sanders supporters are currently using the #OccupyCNN and #BernieBlackout hashtags in an online protest against CNN, claiming the network is providing excessive coverage for certain candidates while neglecting Sanders.
- The online protests against CNN's alleged biased coverage are not confined to CNN alone, as they aim to address perceived media headquarters nationwide for their perceived lack of fair and equal coverage for all candidates.
