WASHINGTON, DC – Violent riots have continued nonstop across the United States for nearly 100 days. Looting, property destruction, arson, assaults on law enforcement, and murder have raged in cities large and small.
At long last, in a video message posted to social media, former Vice President and current Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden has addressed the violence in the streets.
Once again, a Black man — Jacob Blake — was shot by the police. In front of his children. It makes me sick.
Is this the country we want to be?
Needless violence won’t heal us. We need to end the violence — and peacefully come together to demand justice. pic.twitter.com/WdNqrxA3PK
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 26, 2020
He began by passing judgement on the actions of law enforcement, saying:
“What I saw on that video [of the shooting] makes me sick.
“Once again, a black man, Jacob Blake, has been shot by the police in broad daylight with the whole world watching.”
He went on to say that he told Blake’s family:
“…justice will be done.”
Continuing with his typical message of fear of police in the hearts of all black people, he requested:
“Put yourself in the shoes of every black father and black mother in this country and ask, ‘Is this what we want America to be?’”
Biden then began to address the riots and protests, saying:
“Protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary.
“But burning down communities is not protest; it’s needless violence – violence that endangers lives, violence that guts businesses, and shutters businesses that serve the community.
“That’s wrong.”
He went on to quote the words of Julia Jackson, mother of Jacob Blake, saying:
“She looked at the damage done in her community and she said this:
“‘This doesn’t reflect my son, or my family.’”
Circling back to purported racism among law enforcement, he ended with:
“So let’s unite, and heal, do justice, end the violence, and end systemic racism in this country now.”
Even CNN’s Don Lemon called out the Democratic Presidential candidate on his rather lukewarm approach to the violence raging in the cities.
According to The Hill, Lemon has recently said that the Democrats’ “ignoring” the violence is to their detriment, based on results from polls and focus groups.
In a discussion with fellow CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, Lemon pointed out the optics in Biden’s social media post, saying:
“I think his message would be stronger if he stands in front of a podium, and not in a zoom thing at his house. I’m just being honest.”
Lemon continued:
“To come out and stand at a podium in D.C., or wherever, even in Wisconsin, and say — listen, this is what I expected today if they were going to really come out and do the thing right, whether it was going to be Kamala Harris or Joe Biden:
“’Good afternoon, everyone. The rioting has to stop. The violence has to stop. And under a Biden-Harris administration, there will be no lawlessness on the street.’”
The only harsh words Biden has had regarding the violence have been directed at President Trump.
In a recent MSNBC interview, Biden asserted:
“[Trump] is rooting for more violence, not less, and is clear about that. And what’s he doing, is kept (sic) pouring gasoline on the fire.
“This happens to be Donald Trump’s America. Donald Trump’s America.”
[embedded content]White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows recently responded to Biden’s social media message and accusations of the President.
In an interview on the Fox News Channel’s “Daily Briefing,” Meadows stated that Biden only finally condemned the riots because they are hurting his campaign.
Meadows stated:
“Joe Biden sees this as a political liability, which is why he’s finally, after 90 days in Portland rioting, and why, month after month, things have gone on, he’s remained largely silent.
“In fact, if anything, he’s condoned it and said that there should be more of it.”
[embedded content]Meadows then directed attention to Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, saying:
“But the problem that we have is, it’s his running mate and people associated with his running mate that actually were bailing people out that got arrested for the rioting that happened in the first place.”
Indeed, Harris, on her own Twitter feed, called for donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund.
If you’re able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota. https://t.co/t8LXowKIbw
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 1, 2020
Many of the contributors to the fund were Biden staff members, and the fund provided bail money not only for rioters, but for other violent criminals as well.
In fact, as we previously reported, while avoiding comment on the violent nature of the riots, Harris in June issued a warning of sorts in a conversation on Late Night with Stephen Colbert.
Kamala Harris fully supports the BLM/Antifa riots. Don’t be fooled by harmless ole Joe Biden. He’s a means to an end. pic.twitter.com/38nQtkv0oM
— Eric Matheny🎙 (@EricMMatheny) August 28, 2020
She stated:
“They’re not gonna stop… They’re not gonna stop….
“And everyone beware…. They are not gonna let up. And they should not.”
Here is our report on Biden’s previous statements on the riots:
KENOSHA, WI- The shooting of Jacob Blake, 29, by Kenosha police officers reignited outrage and rioting in the state of Wisconsin. Now, Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden has labeled the shooting “systemic racism” and has yet to condemn the violent riots in Kenosha.
Last night Blake was shot while officers were responding to a domestic disturbance in the 2800 block of 40th Street. Witnesses reported that officers attempted to tase Blake but that was not enough to subdue him. As Blake attempted to evade arrest and walk to his vehicle an officer shot him multiple times.
Blake received immediate medical care and is now in stable condition according to the attorney representing the Blake family, Ben Crump. Crump also posted the graphic video of Blake getting shot to Twitter:
Wow. This Black man was shot several times in the back by @KenoshaPolice today. He was getting into his car after apparently breaking up a fight between two women. He’s in critical condition now. We demand JUSTICE! #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/I1reDEp4nw
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 24, 2020
After this video went viral on social media rioting began across the city. Multiple businesses are reportedly burnt to the ground or severely damaged.
A perfect summary of the chaos in America in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Welcome to the Mob’s America.
— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) August 24, 2020
Reports have also rolled in suggested that some of the rioters were armed and fired at police officers late last night.
KENOSHA: a restaurant called “MAGNIA” near the city center was completely destroyed by arsonists
Crews were working nonstop to secure what was left of the building
Reporter @ElijahSchaffer noted that shop owners were advised to leave the area by 4pm CST over safety concerns pic.twitter.com/7q67JkgLgA
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 24, 2020
In response to the havoc across Kenosha Joe Biden made a Facebook post stating:
“Yesterday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back as police attempted to restrain him from getting into his car. His children watched from inside the car and bystanders watched in disbelief.
And this morning, the nation wakes up yet again with grief and outrage that yet another Black American is a victim of excessive force. This calls for an immediate, full and transparent investigation and the officers must be held accountable.
These shots pierce the soul of our nation. Jill and I pray for Jacob’s recovery and for his children.
Equal justice has not been real for Black Americans and so many others. We are at an inflection point. We must dismantle systemic racism. It is the urgent task before us. We must fight to honor the ideals laid in the original American promise, which we are yet to attain: That all men and women are created equal, but more importantly that they must be treated equally.”
Readers were quick to notice that Biden refused to decry the violent rioters taking over the streets of Kenosha and instead focused on the role “systemic racism” played in the shooting.
Further Biden did not call for a peaceful resolution to the rioting or defend the business owners whose livelihoods are now destroyed.
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