Mike Pence refuses to say ‘black lives matter’, insisting ‘all lives matter’

American vice-president repeatedly invited to utter three-word phrase but declines each time

Mike Pence has repeatedly declined to say “black lives matter” during an interview on US television.

The American vice-president described the death of George Floyd – an unarmed black man who died while being arrested in Minneapolis – as a “tragedy” and said police reform would follow.

But he refused to say “black lives matter”, instead saying “all lives matter”.

“Black lives matter”, as a phrase, has gained widespread use in recent years as a way to draw attention to deadly encounters between Americans of colour and the police.

Advocates suggest that to say “all lives matter” as an alternative is to downplay the institutional racism which many see as explicit in western society.

But critics often argue that Black Lives Matter, as an organised network, is a Marxist movement with a wider worldview beyond the establishment of institutional equality that some feel uncomfortable supporting.

When asked to say the words during an interview on Philadelphia-based show Action News, Mr Pence remained steadfast in not doing so.

“People are saying, ‘of course, all lives matter’,” pushed host Brian Taff. “But to say the words is an acknowledgement that black lives also matter at a time in this country when it appears that there’s a segment of our society that doesn’t agree. So why will you not say those words?”

Mr Pence replied: “Well, I don’t accept the fact that there’s a segment of American society that disagrees in the preciousness and importance of every human life.

“And it’s one of the reasons why, as we advance important reforms in law enforcement, as we look for ways to strengthen and improve our public safety in our cities, that we’re not going to stop there.”

He continued by touting the fall of black unemployment rates in the US pre-coronavirus and the development of economic “opportunity zones” as proof that Donald Trump’s administration is reducing discrimination across the country.