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Lowenna Waters
May 24, 2018
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Agence France Presse / Sean Gallup / Getty Images
Steve Bannon has said that he thinks Martin Luther King 'would be proud' of Donald Trump because he has reduced unemployment among the black community.
Speaking on BBC 2's Newsnight, Donald Trump's former chief strategist said:
If you look at the policies of Donald Trump, anybody... Martin Luther King would be proud of him, of what he’s done for the black and Hispanic community for jobs.
He then clarified his point when pressed by the interviewer:
You don’t think Martin Luther King would be proud? Look at the unemployment we had in the black community five years ago.You don’t think Martin Luther King would sit there and go ‘Yes, you’re putting young black men and women to work.
Twitter, however, was less convinced by the claim.
Steve Bannon thinks he can speak on behalf of Martin Luther King, now. Cuz you know, HE. HAS. NO. SHAME. https://t.co/xVotnYiLBc— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@Ana Navarro-Cárdenas) 1527097343
Oh, yeah. When I'm looking for an expert on Doctor Martin Luther King Steve Bannon is my go-to https://t.co/CwSRo4DaYz— Rick Wilson (@Rick Wilson) 1527086978
Steve Bannon said on @BBCNewsnight that Martin Luther King would have been proud of Donald Trump. Possibly the mos… https://t.co/z64kS8wSCe— Jonny Geller (@Jonny Geller) 1527112829
In a string of tweets, Bernice King, Martin Luther King's daughter, also flatly denied Bannon's claims.
#SteveBannon has dangerously and erroneously co-opted my father’s name, work and words. Bannon’s assertion that m… https://t.co/v3LPZaUyIQ— Be A King (@Be A King) 1527134171
My father’s concerns were not sectional, but global. He was an activist for the civil rights of Black people in Ame… https://t.co/KWkNwDQTFb— Be A King (@Be A King) 1527134270
Further, he would not refer to people as “illegal aliens.” The term is degrading and does not reflect his belief th… https://t.co/E2fz6zp8Lq— Be A King (@Be A King) 1527134638
In addition, he would never pit one group against another in the struggle for justice, as Bannon attempts to use hi… https://t.co/Puvxcp1GOt— Be A King (@Be A King) 1527134652
Bannon’s comments are like feeding someone empty calories, in that they don’t convey a comprehensive view of #MLK a… https://t.co/Z3OHzqE6y9— Be A King (@Be A King) 1527134707
My father would be extremely disturbed by the climate created by leaders, who have emboldened people to easily expr… https://t.co/Rc4j7LIWd7— Be A King (@Be A King) 1527134752
Finally, #MLK would be proud of a livable wage for all and not merely a low unemployment rate. #PoorPeoplesCampaign— Be A King (@Be A King) 1527136233
Bernice is an active campaigner for civil rights. Recently, she called for a boycott on Waffle House, after a black customer was choke slammed outside one of its restaurants.
This isn't the first time this week she's had to defend herself and her beliefs against the 'alt-right' this week. On Tuesday, a white alt-right man attempted to 'whitesplain' her own father's doctrine to her on Twitter.
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