Roland Martin has a news show on Newsone. He has called out Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly before for being full of shit and this episode begins with a clip from Bill O’Reilly giving his “No Spin Zone” treatment to the Black Lives Matter movement. O’Reilly, like many law enforcement officials, is in love with the idea that a movement of people who are demanding accountability for police actions are causing crime. The theory goes that police are too afraid to be politically correct and so they are stopping less “suspicious” (see: black) people. Needless to say, Mr. Martin finds this line of reasoning dumb. As. Shit.
You know what this reminds me of? This reminds of people who blame women for rape because they decide to wear a skirt.
He quickly points to the basic flaw in what passes for many conservatives’ arguments about Black Lives Matter and law enforcement which is, if you can only be critical of Black Lives Matter, but not of law enforcement’s clear systemic issues, then what are you actually saying? He goes at Billy O’Reilly for consistently talking about crime in Chicago without ever addressing the historic levels of police corruption and brutality being uncovered there daily.
How have you just ignored those stories, since you love talking about Chicago?
Martin follows this with a succinct statement of fact—the Black Lives Matter movement is historically important.
Black Lives Matter has forced a level of accountability in America, dealing with police, that we have never seen. And the people to blame for crime going up are these sorry cops who don’t want to do their job but they want to draw their paychecks and they want to get their pension.
He brings it home by cutting to the chase.
I’ve said it before but when you’re wrong, I’m going to check you Bill, because in this case YOU’RE A FLAT OUT LIAR. And I’ll say it again, you want a debate? Call me! Pick the day. Pick the time. Pick the location. And I’ll be there. I’ll pay my own way. But the reality is, you don’t really want that conversation. You don’t want your viewers to be exposed to facts.
[All caps my emphasis and enthusiasm]
He throws to the panel which includes The Root’s Jason Johnson who points to the Republican hypocrisy in loving accountability for every other facet of government and government-funded organizations—except law enforcement. Watch the whole thing below.