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Baltimore riots: Black councillor Carl Stokes tells TV anchor 'Just call them N*****s'

Baltimore politician denounced President Barack Obama's description of those involved in riots as 'thugs'

Andrew Buncombe
Wednesday 29 April 2015 14:33 BST
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Councillor Carl Stokes
Councillor Carl Stokes

A black Baltimore councillor delivered an angry retort to a television anchor after she suggested President Barack Obama was correct to use the word “thugs” to describe the rioters on the streets of Baltimore.

Carl Stokes told CNN anchor Erin Burnett that the young people who had clashed with police on Monday night were “our children”.

“Come on,” Mr Stokes said. “So calling them thugs - just call them n*****s. Just call them n*****s.”

The exchange took place after Mr Obama had made comments in which he said the problems faced by the young people of Baltimore were extensive and historic.

Yet he also drew a line between those who had been involved in peaceful protests over the death of Freddie Gray and the people who rioted, looted and set fire to buildings.

“But how does that justify what they did,” said Ms Burnett. “I mean, that’s a sense of right and wrong. They know it’s wrong to steal and burn down a CVS and an old person’s home. I mean, come on.”

Mr Stokes said: "When you say 'come on', come on what. You wouldn't call your a child a thug if they did something which was not what you'd expect them to do.”

Ms Burnett said: “I would hope I would call my son a thug if he ever did such a thing.”

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