A disturbingly misinformed Republican congressman is adding his two cents to the already tense atmosphere in North Carolina following the police killing of Keith Lamont Scott.
Speaking as loud and wrong as he could about why he feels the African-American community in Charlotte is so enraged during an interview earlier this week, North Carolina Congressman Robert Pittenger insisted that the outrage stems from the hatred Black people have for white people and their success.
“They hate white people ’cause white people are successful and they’re not,” he told BBC News on Thursday night. The boisterous Congressman then went on to elaborate further on his crude commentary, insinuating that the state’s government has heavily funded welfare assistance programs mainly for the benefit of Black residents.
“It is a welfare state. We have spent trillions of dollars on welfare, he continued. “But we’ve put people in bondage so that they can’t be all that they’re capable of being.”
Protesters in #Charlotte "hate white people" - North Carolina Congressman Pittenger tells #newsnight https://t.co/q6ELYD01QV
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) September 22, 2016
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Amid backlast, Pittenger took to Twitter to apologize.
I apologize to those I offended and hope we can bring peace and calm to Charlotte.
— Rep Robert Pittenger (@reppittenger) September 22, 2016
My answer to BBC doesn't reflect who I am. I was quoting statements made by angry protesters last night on national TV. Not my intent
— Rep Robert Pittenger (@reppittenger) September 22, 2016
Contrary to Pittenger’s belief, many of the demonstrators taking a stand against police brutality in North Carolina and around the country have spoken out on various occasions to make it clear that the rage felt by the Black community is not at all a generalized sentiment towards all white people.
Instead, most have expressed disappointment towards the continued presence of disregard for Black lives by police, lawmakers and the racist citizens who continue to foster a spirit of exclusion and hate.
Unfortunately, Pittenger’s comments perfectly illustrate the very mindset present in some of our leadership that continues to keep the country divided and progress towards ending racial tensions at a stand still.