CNN's Charles Blow: Linking Black Lives Matter To Anti-Police Violence Is “Incredibly Dangerous And Reckless”

Written by Media Matters Staff

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CNN's Charles Blow called out linking the Black Lives Matter movement to anti-police violence, explaining that doing so is “incredibly dangerous and reckless.” Conservative media figures have blamed the Black Lives Matter movement for the recent deaths of police officers in Illinois and Texas, labeling the movement a hate group that inspires violence against police. On CNN's New Day, Blow called such rhetoric “incredibly dangerous and reckless,” pointing out that “there is no proof whatsoever” that the shooter in Texas was in any way motivated by Black Lives Matter. From the September 3 edition of CNN's New Day:

MICHAELA PEREIRA: Sadly, we have to talk about what we're seeing going on right now. You both -- we haven't had you here since the sheriff in Texas, Harris county, made the comments linking the death of one of his deputies there, linking the Black Lives Matter movement to his death. Obviously, speaking in a heat of moment, but he hasn't backed down. In fact, he's doubled down. First of all, let's start with you, quickly, what are your thoughts on him saying that?

CHARLES BLOW: It's incredibly dangerous and reckless, right? Because there is, to my knowledge, no proof whatsoever that this particular shooter was animated by that. This tragedy, this man, that sheriff deputy should not be dead. However, the shooter -- the shooting happens before the clip we keep playing, the day before, the clip we keep playing from Minnesota. He could not possibly have heard that. That, that could not possibly have influenced him. And so what is the evidence of a link?