The Rev. Al Sharpton spoke with MSNBC host Jose Diaz-Balart on Tuesday morning and noted the importance of maintaining order and avoiding recklessness in Baltimore while also defending the city’s mayor.
Sharpton spoke to Diaz-Balart en route to Baltimore, where the civil rights activist was set to meet with leaders and protestors who sought answers about Freddie Gray’s death, which occurred while he was in police custody.
“There is no excuse or no way we can condone recklessness and violence,” Sharpton said.
He stressed the importance of helping to “restore order” while also addressing the “underlying problem” and pointed out that violence and riots are “counterproductive.”
“Because now the story becomes your recklessness, your violence, not justice for a young man that we can’t explain how he got in police custody,” Sharpton said. “You get in the way of your own message. … You end up aiding and abetting those that want to see you ignored and want to dismiss you as thugs and hoodlums and say ‘Oh, the police have to do this because look how you behave.'”
Sharpton insisted that “you’ve got to have order” in order to bring about change and honor Freddie Gray.
He also responded to criticism Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake received for her handling of the unfurling violence in Baltimore.
“It’s easy to take shots at this mayor,” Sharpton said. “It’s easy to beat up on this woman. The fact of the matter is, she’s right. We don’t know what she knows. We don’t know what she’s dealing with. And we need to help her to restore the situation.”
Oh no! What will Fox News do now that Sharpton has spoken out against the violence? Sharpton is one of their “go-to” guys to promote their racism.
Just taking a shot in the dark here but I’m guessing they’ll just ignore the real Al Sharpton who said actual words. The only thing that matters is how cardboard cutout race-baiter agitators like Al Sharpton etc. EXPLOIT the situation which wouldn’t even exist if we simply agreed not to talk or think about it. Also culture fathers permissiveness hip-hop music etc. The actual facts don’t matter. You have graphic images and a well-worn narrative to explain them. Workday done! It’s Miller time!
Doesn’t matter. The MSM and Teatrolls will play this as though he’s “just saying that” in public and that behind the scenes he’s furiously kilning a fresh supply of bricks.
Where are civil rights leaders in all of this!? Why haven’t they come out and condemned the violence!? A full day and we’ve heard nothing from any civil rights leaders!?
Oh, they have?
Why is Al Shaprton race baiting!? Who does he think he is!? Why can’t he just go away and stop using the race card all the time!? It’s these civil rights leaders that are responsible for this you know!
A little like telling the victims to behave better than the tax paid peacekeepers.