NBA legend and broadcaster Charles Barkley said there is “no excuse” for protesters in Ferguson, Mo., to burn down and loot businesses and heavily criticized the black community’s reaction to the recent news regarding the killing of Michael Brown.
The Round Mound of Rebound said he tries to avoid this kind of debate because of how the media handles them, but he didn’t hold back.
“That’s why I don’t like talking about racial stuff with the media anymore, because they love this stuff, and lead people to jump to conclusions,” he told Philadelphia’s WPEN. “The media shouldn’t do that. They never do that when black people kill each other.”
Barkley went after the black community for attacking the grand jury and Officer Darren Wilson. “We have to be really careful with the cops, because if it wasn’t for the cops we would be living in the Wild, Wild West in our neighborhoods,” he said. “We can’t pick out certain incidentals that don’t go our way and act like the cops are all bad. . . . Do you know how bad some of these neighborhoods would be if it wasn’t for the cops?”
Barkley also lashed out at “scumbags” who took part in the violent protests after the decision was announced. “There is no excuse for people to be out there burning down people’s businesses, burning up police cars,” he said.
“The true story [in the Brown case] came out from the grand-jury testimony,” he said, noting that the court’s work included physical evidence and testimony from black witnesses.
Last year, Barkley drew attention for agreeing with the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who had been indicted in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.