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CNN’s Don Lemon became unglued Wednesday during a heated debate with 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
While debating post Civil War history, @donlemon preposterously claimed that “black people still aren’t allowed to enjoy their freedoms.” That’s an insult to the progress we’ve made over the last 160 years. His comments embody what’s wrong with the dialogue about race in America.… pic.twitter.com/7EE4YNGILK
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) April 19, 2023
CNN’s Poppy Harlow asked Ramaswamy about his recent speech at the NRA conference in which he accused the Democrats of wanting to put black people “back in chains” both currently and in the aftermath of the Civil War. Ramaswamy also noted the first gun laws were passed in 1865 to restrict the rights of black Americans. Harlow turned to Lemon and asked if he had anything he wanted to say, giving Lemon the chance to pounce.
“I don’t really see what one has to do with the other, especially considering and using the Civil War to talk about black Americans. That war was not fought for black people to have guns,” Lemon said.
“That war was fought for black people to have freedoms in this country,” Ramaswamy said. “Yeah, actually, that’s why the Civil War was fought. The sad thing about –”
“The Civil War wasn’t fought for poor black people to have guns,” Lemon cut in.
“Actually, you know, funny fact is, black people did not get to enjoy the other freedoms until their Second Amendment rights were secured. And I think that that’s one of the lessons that–” Ramaswamy said before Lemon again chimed in,
“But black people still aren’t allowed to enjoy the freedoms.”
“I disagree with you on that, Don. I disagree with that. And I think you’re doing a disservice to our country by failing to recognize the fact that we have equality-.”
“When you are in black skin and then you live in this country then you can disagree with me, but we’re not,” Lemon said. “You mentioned there are three different shades of melanin here-”
“Don I think we have to be able to talk about these issues in the open regardless of the color of our skin,” Ramaswamy responded. “Black Americans today, to say that, compare that to 1865 and 1964-”
“For you to compare it to 1865 or 1964 is actually, I think it’s insulting to black people. It’s insulting to me as an African-American, I don’t want to sit here and argue with you because it’s infuriating for you to put those things together. It’s not right. Your telling of history is wrong. Your-”
This is an excerpt only. Read the full story here.
