Sunday morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” things got extremely interesting between former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Georgetown Professor Michael Eric Dyson. They got into the kind of back and forth that had the potential to go to blows if they were in the same space, however Giuliani was at a remote location.
To say they aren’t on the same page regarding Ferguson and race relations, is putting it mildly. It started when Giuliani conveyed his sympathy with the Ferguson grand jurors. On the other hand, Dyson took up for the protesters. The professor said Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s decision to preemptively enact a state of emergency sent the wrong signal, sparking a heated debate on race.
“Mayor Giuliani speaks about what’s, you know, unconscionable and what should be indicted. What should be indicted is the criminal justice system that continues to impose undue burdens on African American, Latino, and other poor people,” Dyson explained.
Giuliani disagreed, saying people aren’t focused on the reason behind the heavy police presence seen in black communities.
“We are talking about the significant exception, 93% of blacks are killed by other blacks,” Giuliani argued.
Dyson shot back, calling that a false equivalency, saying police officers are agents of the state sworn to uphold the law.
“Black people who kill black people go to jail. White people who are policemen who kill black people do not go to jail,” Dyson responded. “If a jury can indict a ham sandwich, why is it taking so long?”
Not letting up, Giuliani came back and said the problem is rooted in the black community.
“What about the poor black child that is killed by another black child? Why aren’t you protesting that,” Giuliani asked Dyson.
The tense exchange continued as Dyson argued that most criminals involved in black on black violence end up in jail. That’s when Giuliani interrupted to ask, “why don’t you cut it down so many white police officers don’t have to be in black areas?”
“The white police officers wouldn’t be there if you weren’t killing each other 70-75% of the time,” Giuliani added a few seconds later.
“Look at this! This is the defensive mechanism of white supremacy in your mind sir!” Dyson concluded.
Giuliani also defended Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s decision to preemptively enact a state of emergency, saying it’s hard to second guess a governor.
“I would have had a state of emergency, but I would have kept it quiet,” Giuliani said. “In other words I would have kept my police on alert, I’d have kept them in places you couldn’t see them, be ready in a moment’s notice to stop any violence.”
Read more at https://www.eurweb.com/2014/11/rudy-giuliani-michael-eric-dyson-in-heated-debate-over-ferguson-watch/#oluR5clijJ2ZiHjx.99
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