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MILWAUKEE (AP) – Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson is called a racist in an interview in which the white Republican said he was not worried about predominantly white supporters of President Donald Trump during the insurgency murderous on Capitol Hill, but that it might have been had they been Black Lives Matter protesters.
In an interview Thursday with a unionized radio host Joe Pagliarulo, Johnson said of those who stormed the Capitol on Jan.6 to try to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory: ‘I knew these were people who love this country, which really respects law enforcement, would never do anything to break the law, so I wasn’t concerned.
“Now if the tables had been turned, and Joe – this is going to get me in trouble – if the tables had been turned and President Trump had won the election and tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter and Antifa, j might have been a little worried. Johnson said, referring to far-left protesters known as anti-fascists who stand up to neo-Nazis and white supremacists at protests and other events.
Five people died in the assault on the Capitol, including a policeman, and 140 policemen were injured. The insurgency also caused considerable damage and led to the call of National Guard troops to restore order. Over 300 Trump supporters were accused of storming the building, including members of far-right extremist groups.
Johnson’s comments sparked outrage among Democrats in Wisconsin, including State Senator LaTonya Johnson of Milwaukee.
“For him to say something as racist as that – that’s ridiculous,” said the state senator, who is black. “It’s a totally racist comment and the insult to injury is that he didn’t mind saying it in the position he is in because, for some reason, it just counts as behavior.” acceptable to people who live and are elected officials in this state.
Ron Johnson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he made the comment because most of the protests last summer against George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis turned violent and caused widespread property damage. The unrest in the days following the handcuffed black man’s death on May 25 while in police custody caused extensive damage to cities across the country – approximately $ 500 million in Minneapolis-St. Paul region alone.
“That’s why I would have been more worried,” Johnson said in a statement.
Democrats seeking the senator’s two-term seat next year were quick to call him.
“Ron Johnson is racist and unfit to serve the people of Wisconsin. There is no missing context here. He knew what he was saying, he knew he shouldn’t be saying it, but that’s who he is, ”said Alex Lasry, Milwaukee Bucks executive.
Tom Nelson, the Outagamy County executive who is also seeking the Democratic nomination, said Johnson had hit “a despicable new low” with his comments.
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