Sheriff David Clarke: Black Lives Matter Movement Is 'Anarchy'
CLEVELAND (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke chastised the Black Lives Matter movement during the Republican National Convention Monday night.
Clarke told the crowd that the movement is a form of "anarchy."
"What we witnessed in Ferguson, in Baltimore and Baton Rouge was a collapse of the social order. So many of the actions of the occupying movement and Black Lives Matter transcends peaceful protests and violates the code of conduct we rely on. I call it anarchy," the sheriff said.
Clarke said a "sense of safety" many Americans used to have is gone.
"Sadly for a growing number of communities the sense of safety that many of us once took for granted has been shattered. Americans don't always feel safe no matter if they are working in a big city, living in a suburb, or rural areas all around this great country," Clarke explained. "I often tell residents of Milwaukee and cities and towns I visit that safety is a shared endeavor. It starts with the willing acceptance of people to play by society's rules, a code if you will where we collectively agree upon that ensures stability, fairness and respect. It is built on a foundation of trust in each other and in the people who administer and enforce society's rules, which at is foundation is the rule of law."
Clarke also energized the convention by declaring, "Blue Lives Matter in this country."
During the convention, Donald Trump told Fox News that Black Lives Matter is calling for death to police.
"You see them marching and you see them on occasion, at least, I have seen it, where they are essentially calling death to the police, and that's not acceptable whether you like them or don't like them. That is not acceptable, but I have seen it and you have seen it," Trump said.
Trump also suggested that he would have the group investigated if he becomes president.
"I think you have to look into it very seriously because people get themselves into big jams for saying a lot less than that," Trump told Fox News. "I mean, I have seen them marching down the street essentially calling death to the police, and I think we're going to have to look into that. Especially in light of what is happening with these maniacs going and shooting our police."
The nation has been on edge in recent weeks following the deaths of two black men at the hands of police, and officers getting gunned down in Dallas and Baton Rouge.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
