Pence says leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement have a “radical left” agenda

Vice President Pence said he believes the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement are pushing what he called a “radical left political agenda” when pressured in a recent interview on why he still refuses to say the phrase “Black lives matter. “

During a CBS News appearance on Sunday, journalist John Dickerson asked the vice president why he refused to say the phrase the protesters asked him to do.

“All my life, I was inspired by the example of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When I was in Congress, I traveled to his church in Montgomery with the congressman. John LewisJohn Lewis: A new non-profit organization aims to rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge after John Lewis. It’s time for a third Reconstruction Tulsa theater to screen the John Lewis documentary as a ‘peaceful protest’ of the Trump rally. PLUS. I crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, “Pence began in response.” I appreciate the progress we’ve made toward a more perfect union for African-Americans throughout our history. “

“And throughout my career I have aspired to be part of that continuous work. It really is a heart problem for me, ”she continued. “And as a pro-life American, I also believe that all life matters, born and unborn. But what I see in the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement is a radical left political agenda that would eliminate the police. ”

“Leave that out. Just the phrase,” Dickerson interrupted.

“That would tear down the monuments, press a radical leftist agenda and support calls for the kind of violence that has plagued the very communities they claim to defend,” Pence continued.

“So you won’t say black lives matter?” Dickerson went on to ask Pence.

“John, I really believe that all lives matter. And that’s where the heart of the American people lies, “replied Pence.

The Hill contacted the Global Network Black Lives Matter, a global non-profit organization formed by the founders of the movement, for comment.

The group, which was formed after Trayvon Martin’s death in 2012, has expanded to a network of more than 40 chapters in recent years and has continuously worked to combat police brutality and racism. Some of the political actions he has called for over the years to tackle police brutality include disbursement of the police and redirection of those funds to local communities, changing the standard of use of police force, and guarantee of greater police responsibility.

Pence’s interview on Sunday comes about a week after he declined to say the words during an interview with the 6ABC Action News media outlet in Philadelphia. Instead, he said “all lives matter,” a phrase that has been used, in many cases by non-black people, in response to “black lives matter.”