Posted on 07/21/2015 4:04:37 PM PDT by nickcarraway
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith diverged from talking about sports on Tuesday and veered into a rant about activists criticizing Democratic presidential contender Martin O’Malley for saying “all lives matter,” when confronted by Black Lives Matter protesters on Saturday.
During the six-minute lecture, Smith, who is African-American said, “Where’s the noise about all black lives matter when black folks are killing black folks? You see, that’s where you lose me… So we mandate that folks say black lives matter,” he yelled. “But we got black folks dying at the hands of black folks.”
“There’s nothing wrong with highlighting that all lives matter,” he continued. “That’s not a reason for somebody to be booed.”
Criticism was swift.
Smith was responding to Black Lives Matter protesters interrupting candidates O’Malley and Bernie Sanders at Netroots Nation over the weekend to protest about the ongoing issue of state violence against black people. Demonstrates booed when O’Malley said “every life matters” and “white lives matter.”
The Black Lives Matter movement sprang up in response to police violence against black people that has resulted in a seemingly unending stream of death, including Eric Garner in New York City, Mike Brown in Ferguson, Walter Scott in South Carolina, Freddie Gray in Maryland and most recently, Kindra Chapman and Sandra Bland, two young black women whose jail cell deaths in Alabama and Texas, respetively, have attracted national outrage.
The phrase “all lives matter” in response to “black lives matter” is seen as being willfully demeaning and dismissive, because “Black Lives Matter” specifically counters racism that devalues black lives.
According to CNN, O’Malley apologized for the way he responded to demonstrators.
“That was a mistake on my part and I meant no disrespect,” he said. “I did not mean to be insensitive in any way or communicate that I did not understand the tremendous passion, commitment and feeling and depth of feeling that all of us should be attaching to this issue.”
Listen to Smith’s rant here:
Damn that’s harsh dude! But so true!
I really wish at least one reporter would have the balls to ask Hillary in front of a camera, “Do you believe that all lives matter?”
Or course, reporters only ask Republican candidates “gotcha” questions.
Don’t stray from the democrat Plantation, Steve, or you’ll get a good whipping.
Not true.
Black lives don't matter when blacks are shot by other blacks. The only black lives that matter are the relatively rare blacks who are shot by whites.
Martin O’Malley was a “closet Marxist” and now he’s a closet coward. Call him “irrelevant” and a “coward”.
Netroots Nation. A neo-Marxist and black racist national organization, pure and simple.
If blacks only support “Black Lives Matter”, then that explains why Obama has been totally silent on the cold-blooded, illegal immigrant criminal’s killing of a nice white woman, Kate Steinle.
As Jeh Johnson accidentally said, “WHO”? (Yes, I believe this buffoon did not completely hear the question of the House Committee’s speaking congressman. Why pay attention to a bunch of white crackers who won’t use their congressal powers to punish me for being a fool and a total incompetent. “If they can’t or won’t punish me for being a total waste, then WHO”?
The left doesn’t care about White lives.
#ThugLivesDontWork
Yeah going after someone both conservatives and progressives can't stand is attractive. Trump is so brave, I almost think he must of been a war hero. Oh wait was he? Did he serve in Vietnam? Did he serve in some other capacity? Did he try and serve , but was rejected due to health problems? It can only be because of his moral convictions to remain married to the same wife or his anti-abortion policies. What? That is not true? I'm trying to remember why he is attractive. Was it his support of Obama or Hillary? That must be it. That is why us Freepers are so enamored by him. All hail the Donald.
The most dangerous place for a black child is in the mother’s womb.
The facts say Planned Parenthood terminated the lives of 117,955 black babies in 2013. The previous year, cops killed 123 black men.
Black livers matter #PlannedParenthood
I admire any Black guy that stands up (figuratively) and explains things in a rational manner.
There’s nothing wrong with what he said here. If Blacks would admit it to themselves, perhaps some lives could be saved.
I value Black lives. When officers are wrong, they should have the book thrown at them.
On the other hand, when Blacks are wrong, I want Blacks to admit it.
All lives do matter.
He’s definitely not a conservative, but he’s an independent thinker and agrees with us on more than he’ll ever realize or admit.
Smith is like Montel Williams: I alternatively cheer or boo him with every other comment.
Don’t all lives matter?
You can say that again (and again, and again!)
I think Smith is a conservative. He might not admit it for fear of being fired by liberal ESPN, but he his words down through the years certainly more republican than democrat.
He is abrasive and loud mouthed . . . and is often spot on. That’s his schtick. Like you, I’ve come to greatly respect him, even though especially on sports I don’t always agree.
Can’t go against Obama and his minions.
Ha, man you hate Trump. There must still be Americans left in your neighborhood.
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