Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called Dallas protestors "hypocrites" because they ran from the scene as sniper fire rained down on police detailed to keep order at their demonstration Thursday night.
The shots killed five officers and wounded seven more during a march to protest against recent police shootings of black men. Patrick, a Republican, cited the heated rhetoric from activists that has been directed at law enforcement.
"All those protesters last night, they turned around and ran the other way expecting the men and women in blue to protect them. What hypocrites!" Patrick said
on Fox News Friday. "I do blame people on social media with their hatred toward police. I do blame former Black Lives Matter protests. This has to stop."
Texas State Rep. Bill Zedler echoed the sentiment on Twitter.
Earlier Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released
an open letter calling for unity in the wake of the tragedy.
"Texas is an exceptional state with exceptional people. We've faced tough challenges in the past, but we have come together to overcome those challenges," the letter says. "In the coming days, there will be those who foment distrust and fan the flames of dissension. To come together - that would be the greatest rebuke to those who seek to tear us apart."
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