Fox News host Tucker Carlson is defending the actions of Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who allegedly shot and killed two people during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday evening. The protests were in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake by police officers on Sunday evening as he attempted to walk back to his car. Blake is clinging to life in the hospital and is paralyzed as a result of his injuries.
On his show Wednesday evening, according to the Washington Post, Carlson praised Rittenhouse — who traveled to Wisconsin from his home state of Illinois — as perfectly understandable:
“The 17-year-old who has now been charged tried to run from the mob. He tripped and fell in the middle of the street. A man ran up and smashed him in the head with a skateboard. The 17-year-old then fired his gun.
“Are we really surprised that looting and arson accelerated to murder? How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?”
Carlson also tried to blame police and political leaders in Wisconsin for the vigilante actions taken by Rittenhouse:
“Kenosha has devolved into anarchy, the authorities in charge of the city abandoned it. People in charge, from the governor of Wisconsin on down, refused to enforce the law. They stood back and watched Kenosha burn.”
Kenosha devolved into anarchy because the authorities abandoned the people. Those in charge, from the governor on down, refused to enforce the law. They’ve stood back and watched Kenosha burn. Are we really surprised that looting and arson accelerated to murder? pic.twitter.com/oul2KUiDi3
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 27, 2020
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich condemned Carlson and Fox News for allowing such content on the network:
If they don’t take action after this, every one of Fox News’s executives, directors, and advertisers is complicit in Tucker Carlson’s racist, murderous rants. https://t.co/YbT8as1kHg
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) August 27, 2020
Others were also disgusted by Carlson’s remarks, which gave rise to the hashtag #FireTuckerCarlson:
Carlson is inciting violence by declaring that murdering people is just keeping order. Get him away from the public view. Fox is complicit.
— yardstick for lunatics (@lllimericks) August 27, 2020
#FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTucksAss
— Claire M ?? (@ClarBar2222) August 27, 2020
— Malcolm Willoughby (@MalcWilloughby) August 27, 2020
This is flat out encouraging vigilantes to bring their guns and shoot protesters, just like that 17 year old did. Fox is supporting killing people. #FireTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson
— rebecca mccoy (@rebeccamccoyb1) August 27, 2020
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