Ruhle Denies BLM Supports Looting, Gets Schooled by Guest

bradwilmouth | August 18, 2020
Font Size

Cross posted to the MRC's NewsBusters blog

On Monday's MSNBC Live, host Stephanie Ruhle seemed taken aback when her guest, Chicago resident and black church pastor, Reverend Corey Brooks, complained that the Black Lives Matter movement has encouraged looting and does not represent the values that he and other local leaders wish to promote.

After Ruhle tried to argue that BLM "isn't calling for looting," Reverend Brooks filled her in on the pro-looting comments made by the far-left group's local leadership.

[video:https://www.mrctv.org/node/552776 align:center]

As the MSNBC host spoke with Reverend Brooks -- the founder of the New Beginnings Church in Chicago -- she recalled that Illinois Republican Congressman Darin LaHood recently called for the National Guard to be used to put down a recent rise in violence in the city, leading to the city's Democratic mayor, Lori Lightfoot, to shoot down the idea.

After Brooks informed viewers of all the children who have been shot recently as he agreed with the congressman that there needs to be more federal help, Ruhle brought up claims that a recent police shooting was to blame for riots and looting as she followed up:

RUHLE: Some people in Chicago say a police shooting in your neighborhood is what sparked the looting in downtown Chicago. You say that it was something that was probably going to happen with or without a shooting. What did you mean?

In his response, Reverend Brooks complained about the influence of the Black Lives Matter movement on his city:

I understand the message, "Black Lives Matter," but the movement is so different than what we want in our community, and they're calling for things to be done that most of the people in our community -- especially the leaders in our community -- we don't want to happen. We did not believe that looting is the solution -- we do not believe that looting is reparations --we do not believe that looting is a way to solve the problem.

He added:

And so those are things that they're promoting, and those are things that people that they're listening to -- basically the millennials, some of the younger people -- so Black Lives Matter has a lot to say about the movement and about what's going on in our community. But I say that we cannot tolerate that -- we cannot allow that because that is not the Chicago way, and that's definitely not the America way.

Host Ruhle then tried to defend the left-wing activist group: "But let's be clear -- Black Lives Matter isn't calling for looting."

Her guest then recalled that the local BLM leadership had spoken in favor of looting:

REVEREND BROOKS: Well, you had the person who was in charge of Black Lives Matter locally say that looting is okay -- that looting is okay as far as -- looting, it's okay if they loot -- it's okay because it's reparations because these companies have insurance. That is not okay at any time in any way.

After an awkward pause, Ruhle seemed to be at a loss for words as she sheepishly responded: "Looting is not okay," and then immediately wrapped up the segment.

The episode of MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle was sponsored by Choice Hotels and WayFair. Their contact information is linked.

Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Monday, August 17, MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle:

9:43 a.m. Eastern

STEPHANIE RUHLE: Do you need the federal guard -- excuse me, the National Guard -- to come in and help? Illinois Republican Congressman Darin LaHood has said, "Bring in the National Guard -- they can back the police," and Mayor Lori Lightfoot said, "No, not in my city." What do you think?

REVEREND COREY BROOKS, NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH: I agree with him. I think there are times when we need the National Guard. We're not only experiencing looting and rioting and things of that sort, but, on the South Side and West Side of Chicago, we have an extreme amount of violence that's being done, and so we need to help make sure our communities stay safe.

And whatever it takes to make sure our community is in a safe place so that children are not being shot. I don't know how many people realize it, but we've had quite a bit of children to be shot in Chicago, and that in America should never be something that we just take lightly, and that should not be something that we just allow to happen. We do need as much help as possible to solve the issues of violence in the city of Chicago.

RUHLE: Some people in Chicago say a police shooting in your neighborhood is what sparked the looting in downtown Chicago. You say that it was something that was probably going to happen with or without a shooting. What did you mean?

REVEREND BROOKS: Absolutely, absolutely. You know, you have Black Lives Matter, and let me say this. I understand the message, "Black Lives Matter," but the movement is so different than what we want in our community, and they're calling for things to be done that most of the people in our community -- especially the leaders in our community -- we don't want to happen. We did not believe that looting is the solution -- we do not believe that looting is reparations --we do not believe that looting is a way to solve the problem.

And so those are things that they're promoting, and those are things that people that they're listening to -- basically the millennials, some of the younger people -- so Black Lives Matter has a lot to say about the movement and about what's going on in our community. But I say that we cannot tolerate that -- we cannot allow that because that is not the Chicago way, and that's definitely not the America way.

RUHLE; But let's be clear -- Black Lives Matter isn't calling for looting.

REVEREND BROOKS: Well, you had the person who was in charge of Black Lives Matter locally say that looting is okay -- that looting is okay as far as -- looting, it's okay if they loot -- it's okay because it's reparations because these companies have insurance. That is not okay at any time in any way.

RUHLE; Looting is not okay. Pastor Brooks, thank you so much for joining me this morning.

donate