(ProsperNews.net) – Former NBA superstar Charles Barkley raised eyebrows recently when he said black Trump supporters deserve a “punch in the face.” The basketball star condemned people for wearing t-shirts with Trump’s infamous mugshot from Fulton County jail and said if he sees a black person wearing one, he will deliver the punch. When pressed if he was serious, he said, “I mean that sincerely,” adding he would “celebrate” if he was charged with assault.
Trump’s recent remarks about black supporters angered Mr. Barkley. The former President said blacks sympathized with him because of the numerous criminal charges he faces. Mr. Trump explained that black people can relate to him because, like him, they have faced discrimination at the hands of the criminal justice system. Mr. Barkley considers this an affront to black Americans.
Citing Trump’s billionaire status and the fact that he has been President of the United States, Barkley said it is an insult to compare himself to blacks, who have “been discriminated against all these years.”
The GOP leader delivered the controversial speech to the Black Conservative Federation’s (BCF) annual gala in South Carolina in late February. The Federation awarded Trump its “Champion of black America” award, and he appeared alongside black Republicans Senator Tim Scott, Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas, and Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida.
While some consider Trump’s remarks offensive, many attendees at the event agreed with his assessment. Adam Wasolis, vice chair of the New York Young Republican Black Caucus, said the former President’s comments resonate with many young black men, because the legal system is one of the obstacles they frequently face.
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre fiercely denounced Trump’s characterization of black men as criminals. She called his South Carolina remarks “divisive” and “repugnant” and accused the former President of trafficking in “racist stereotypes.”
However, Diante Johnson of the BCF said black Americans don’t care about racism accusations but want a secure border and safe streets, which is why they support Donald Trump.
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