In the aftermath of a white cop shooting unarmed black South Carolina man Walter Scott, former Rep. Allen West (R-FL) wrote that people of color should not embrace “the victim mentality” in this case since “the justice system clearly worked.”
In a blog post published Thursday morning, West said that he expected that “the media and black activists will try and milk this one.”
“It’s not necessary for anyone to try and claim this for political advantage,” he wrote. “There is no need for the insidious false narrative of ‘hands up don’t shoot” or rhetorical signage of ‘black lives matter.'”
Video released on Tuesday appeared to show North Charleston, S.C. Patrolman Michael Thomas Slager, who is white, shooting into Scott’s back as he ran away after a purported struggle involving the officer’s stun gun.
Slager was fired from the police department and charged with murder.
While West wrote that there was no excuse for Slager’s use of force, he said that everyone watching the case should move on and refrain from “speeches about police re-training.”
“Let us take the time to offer our condolences to the family of Walter Scott and maybe what should be done is establish a scholarship fund for his four children to attain what is sorely needed in the black community: better education opportunities,” he wrote.
West dismissed concerns over racism in American police departments.
“At this time we need to once again focus on correcting that which ails the black community: strong families and economic growth,” he wrote.
