Fox news host Tucker Carlson has been widely criticised after he defended the killing of 2 Black Lives Matter protesters by a 17-year-old law enforcement obsessive.
On his TV show, 'Carlson', he stated that it was unsurprising that someone had taken the law into their own hands to defend the city from protesters and rioters. He also claimed that Rittenhouse was seeking to 'maintain order' as the city had been left to anarchy and chaos. He said:
"Kenosha has devolved into anarchy because the authorities in charge of the city abandoned it. People in charge from the governor of Wisconsin on down refused to enforce the law. They stood back and they watched Kenosha burn. So are we really surprised that looting and arson accelerated to murder? How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?"
17-Year-Old Kyle Rittenhouse has now been charged with two counts of murder. The 17 year-old's social media profiles show that he was obsessed with law enforcement, and other emergency services, and had badges related to the 'Back The Blue' campaign which sought to defend police officers amidst criticism following their actions over the last year, particularly since the death of George Floyd in May.
He was one among dozens of individuals armed to the teeth and dressed in militia type clothing that took to the streets amidst three nights of rioting following the shooting of Jacob Blake by an officer.
Social media was flooded with outrage against Carlson's inflammatory statements.
Keith Boykin said:
"An innocent black guy is killed by police and Tucker Carlson calls him a thug. A guilty white guy murders two people and Tucker Carlson calls him a patriot."
An innocent black guy is killed by police and Tucker Carlson calls him a thug.
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) August 27, 2020
A guilty white guy murders two people and Tucker Carlson calls him a patriot. https://t.co/SGHhohdLfC
While another commentator, Ida Bae Wells, said Carlson:
'Justified murder'.
He just justified murder. https://t.co/JLcWzB6s2H
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) August 27, 2020
NBA players have now said that they are going to go on strike in solidarity with the BLM movement and in opposition to police brutality. 80% of NBA players are from African-American backgrounds.
Carlson's comments are likely to inflame an already powder-keg situation not only in Wisconsin, but across the United States.
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