A protester interrupts O’Malley, right, as moderator Jose Vargas looks on at Saturday’s Netroots Nation event in Phoenix. (Photo: Ross D. Franklin/AP)
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley apologized Saturday for saying “all lives matter” after he was interrupted by protesters chanting “black lives matter” at a Netroots Nation conference, a gathering of liberal activists, in Phoenix.
“That was a mistake on my part, and I meant no disrespect,”O’Malley said in an online interview after the event. “I did not mean to be insensitive in any way or communicate that I did not understand the tremendous passion, commitment and feeling and depth of feeling that all of us should be attaching to this issue.”
O’Malley and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders were taking part in a presidential town hall when several dozen protesters interrupted the session, demanding the Democratic candidates address recent cases of brutality against African-Americans by white police officers.
“Black lives matter, white lives matter,” O’Malley responded. “All lives matter.”
No comments:
Post a Comment