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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCharles Barkley speaks out on Ferguson
NBA analyst Charles Barkley has openly talked about racial issues in the past, and he addressed the grand jurys decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson and subsequent rioting in an appearance on Philadelphia radio station 97.5 The Fanatic. Barkley echoed his controversial comments in October, criticizing segments of the black community, and condemned those who looted stores and burned down businesses.
Via 97.5 The Fanatic:
(Those expletives) who are looting, those arent real black people, those are scumbags. Real black people, theyre not out there looting. I just watched a great story on CNN where bunch of folks wouldnt let them burn down an establishment, it was a great story
. But unfortunately, the way the media portrays a lot of black people, we only put the negative black people on television. We dont put the good hard-working black people. Thats what I said and thats what I meant. Theres a perception amongst some black people that if youre not a thug or a hood rat, you dont wear your pants down by your [expletive] youre not black enough. And theyre always holding us back, plain and simple. And I aint shutting up and I aint backing down..
Barkley also defended the police and said that some black neighborhoods would be the wild wild west if not for a police presence.
Im not saying who is right or wrong, Im just hearing the true story that came out of the grand jury investigation
. Let me just say this. I think that we, we I know Im black, but Im going to try to always be honest and fair we have to be really careful with the cops. If it wasnt for the cops, wed be living in the wild wild west in out neighborhoods. We cant pick out certain incidents that dont go our way and act like the cops are all bad. I hate when we do that. Think about it. Do you know how bad some of these neighborhoods would be if it wasnt for the cops? Its always great to play monday morning quarterback
. Like I say, I dont know what happened in Ferguson, nobody knows what happened. I want to take the time as a responsible person [and] read the grand jury statement.
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/12/charles-barkley-speaks-out-on-ferguson
Note - Don't take my posting as agreement as I don't agree except for the last part--taking the time to look at all how documents from the grand jury which I intend to myself.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,166 posts)How exactly does that excuse situations where they cross the line, however?
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)and ignore the context of the protests. Yes, opportunistic vandals and looters will use the protest to engage in vandalism and looting. That has nothing to do with the issue of police brutality and racial injustice.
saltpepperdoor
(18 posts)A lot of truth in his words.