LOADED WORDS

protesters” — what this word changes.

"Protesters" frames the gathering as legitimate civic expression. The contrast term "rioters" frames it as criminal violence.

protesters” makes the story feel like

civic, lawful, citizens exercising rights.

The contrast: “rioters

The other side's framing of the same event: violent mob, criminal, lawless.

See the “rioters” page →

Live headlines using “protesters

How Optics uses these words

Optics doesn't decide which framing is “right.” It surfaces them so a reader can see, in one glance, that the same event is being labeled completely differently depending on which outlet picked the verb. See the full loaded-word catalog or read the methodology.