Former Rep. Joe Walsh Stands By Tweet Telling Obama To 'Watch Out' After Dallas Police Shootings
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Following a deadly attack in Dallas, Texas that left five police officers dead and seven others wounded, former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh took to Twitter, sparking outrage after blaming the incident on President Barack Obama and the Black Lives Matter movement.
"3 Dallas Cops killed, 7 wounded. This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you," the Tea Party Republican said in a now-deleted tweet following the incident.
You can delete the tweet @WalshFreedom, but that doesn't change the fact you sent it. #Disgusting pic.twitter.com/AalUrWfwEd
— Jeremy Dickey (@JeremyDDickey) July 8, 2016
The tweet sparked immediate outrage from the Twitter community. After deleting the tweet from his personal account, Walsh tweeted again, saying:
"I wasn't calling for violence against Obama or anyone. Obama's words & BLM's deeds have gotten cops killed. Time for us to defend our cops."
I wasn't calling for violence, against Obama or anyone. Obama's words & BLM's deeds have gotten cops killed. Time for us to defend our cops.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
In later rants, Walsh called for people to "stand up against all the Cop haters - from Obama to the "thugs" on the street."
Walsh told The Associated Press that he didn't intend to incite violence against Obama or anyone else. He says "that's just stupid'' and "would be wrong and reprehensible.''
The former politician, now radio show host, received backlash from celebrities like John Legend and Montel Williams:
"When you believe "Real America" does not include the President of America, you might be a racist," Legend tweeted.
When you believe "Real America" does not include the President of America, you might be a racist. https://t.co/ctvjKHG13x
— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 8, 2016
Five officers were killed and seven others were wounded when the gunfire broke out Thursday night while hundreds of people were gathered to protest fatal police shootings this week in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and suburban St. Paul, Minnesota.
Some Black Lives Matter supporters are condemning the slayings of police.
Center for Media Justice director Malkia Cyril says her "heart hurts for the dead."
#BlackLivesMatter advocates dignity, justice and freedom, not the murder of cops. Police violence, not #BlackLove, creates violence.
— malkia devich-cyril (@culturejedi) July 8, 2016
She writes that it "advocates dignity, justice and freedom, not the murder of cops." King says anyone blaming Black Lives Matter "is sick."
New York Daily News columnist Shaun King that he hates police brutality but doesn't hate police. He says: "This violence is wrong on every level."
He says protesters were peaceful and the shootings "terrorized them too."
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