Here's what Fox News has to say about John Legend and civil rights

John Legend used the Academy Awards stage, where his track Glory won the Oscar for best song, to highlight that there are currently more black men in American prisons than there were under slavery.

Fox News did not seem pleased with this stance, with pundits bemoaning all the "politics" in several acceptance speeches and decrying "liberals" for only "punishing" rather than celebrating the country's successes.

Legend, along with Common - who also performed in the song for the film about Martin Luther King, said that the struggle for justice is as important today as it was for the events in Selma 50 years ago.

We know that the Voting Rights Act that they fought for 50 years ago is being compromised right now, in this country today.

We know right now the struggle for freedom and justice is real. We live in the most incarcerated country in the world. There are more black men under correctional control today than were under slavery in 1850.

• John Legend

The musician's comments referred to a 2013 US Supreme Court decision that overturned a part of the Voting Rights Act which previously required states to get clearance before changing voting laws.

Quartzreports that some states have subsequently increased restrictions on voting - like requiring citizens to present identification at polling stations - and that research suggests voting rates among ethnic minorities and young people have decreased as a result.

But this is all mere hyperbole for the team at Fox News. “It was a lot of politics last night,” groaned panellist Jesse Watters.

On John Legend, I think he talked about voter ID and discrimination. I just want to fact check there, a lot of the states that passed voter ID laws, black voter participation has actually gone up. So, I don’t even think that’s true.

• Jesse Watters

While we're fact-checking, we'll just leave this Washington Post report entitled "Voter ID laws reduce turnout more among African American and younger voters" here.

Watters' colleague Kimberly Guilfoyle then continued the attack on the "reckless, self-serving" liberals using the Oscars as a "political soapbox".

Everything is just punishing, nothing is celebrating all the successes and advancements we have in this country. And I agree with you, Jesse, why don’t you talk about ISIS and Sharia law that’s condoning genital mutilation and disfigurement of women?

• Kimberly Guilfoyle

You can watch the full Fox News segment here:

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