Rep. Charlie Rangel says the lack of indictment against a white New York City police officer in the death of a black man selling illegal cigarettes should prompt good people of all backgrounds to speak out against racism.
The New York Democrat, appearing Wednesday on MSNBCs
"Hardball with Chris Matthews," compared the chokehold death case of Eric Garner in New York to that of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. A grand jury last week declined to indict police officer Darren Wilson in Brown's shooting death, setting off several days of protests.
"Both of the victims were black," Rangel told MSNBC, calling people who would do harm to someone because of his race "mean-spirited people." He also condemned those who watch such violence and don't speak out.
Activists have placed the Garner and Brown cases among other incidents of unarmed black men killed by police. In the Ferguson case, the officer said he was rushed by the suspect and feared for his life. In the Garner case, the suspect was pulled to the ground after being cited for allegedly selling illegal cigarettes. He can be seen on videotape pleading with officers that he couldn't breathe.
"It's embarrassing. It's awkward for me as an American to talk about this disease that we've had since slavery. We're curing it gradually, but it exists," Rangel said.
He agreed with the push to get more training and body cameras for police officers, but added, "What do they talk about at the dinner table about people of color, especially young men?"
Host Chris Matthews said he's seen every generation more liberal on race than the one before, "so I guess I'm more hopeful than you about this."
"I'm hopeful as hell," Rangel replied. "We've come a long way since slavery . . . We're not saying America is racist. It's probably just a handful of sick people."
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