DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Statement on Last Night’s Shooting in Minneapolis

DNC Chair Statement on Last Night’s Shooting in Minneapolis

WASHINGTON, D.C. — DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement on last night’s shooting in Minneapolis:

“The shooting last night of protesters in Minneapolis at an ongoing demonstration for Jamar Clark is both horrific and tragic.  While thankfully none of the injuries to protesters are life-threatening, this is another reminder that racism remains ever-present in communities across our country, and that minority communities feel threatened physically and by the structural obstacles that a legacy of slavery and racism have left behind. Protesters have a right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances. And our nation’s leaders have an obligation to protect that right.
 
“When presidential candidates criticize the concerns and legitimate grievances of the African American community, when they condone dismissiveness, or as one Republican presidential candidate said this weekend, that an anti-racism protestor maybe ‘should have been roughed up,’ they contribute to hostility.  There is no place for violence in our public discourse and certainly no place for irresponsible leadership in presidential campaigns more worried about playing to the ugliest elements of their party’s base than about doing what’s right. Every Republican presidential candidate ought to speak out against violence against protesters if they’re serious about wanting to lead America.”
 
Donald Trump on anti-racism protestor beaten by his supporters: “maybe he should have been roughed up.”
Ted Cruz on anti-racism activists: “disgraceful”
Ben Carson on the movement for Black lives: “sickening to me.”
Marco Rubio claimed that concerns over police violence  were “dangerous.”
Jeb Bush on Black Lives Matter: “It’s a slogan, I guess.”
Chris Christie on the movement for Black lives: “I don’t believe that movement should be justified.”