Also Calls Protesters at Scene Thursday Night ‘Hypocritical’Â
In an interview Friday on Fox News, Republican Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blamed previous Black Lives Matter protests for Thursday’s shooting that left five police officers dead in Dallas.Â
Patrick also called protesters “hypocritical” for running away from the scene of the attack while expecting police to protect them.Â
“I do blame people on social media with their hatred towards police,” Patrick said. “I do blame — I saw Jesse Jackson I think it was on Fox the other night, calling police racist without any facts. I do blame former Black Lives Matter protest. Last night was peaceful, but others have not been.”
Patrick added that “this has to stop,” because otherwise no one will serve in law enforcement anymore.Â
“We’ve always had bad people,” he said. “We’ve always had dangerous people, but the general public respected the police. Too many in the general public who aren’t criminals, but have a big mouth, are creating situations like we saw last month.
“All of these officers .. lost their lives protecting people who were protesting against them,” Patrick said. “All those protesters last night, they turned around and ran the other way expecting the men and women in blue to protect them. What hypocrites!”
Patrick added that he’s “sick and tired of those who are protesting police and putting their lives in danger.”Â
As we reported earlier, the suspect in shooting, Micah Xavier Johnson, told police he was acting alone and not affiliated with any group.Â
The protest that preceded the shooting was peaceful, and police officers even posed with participants before the attack. Furthermore, Black Lives Matter leaders have condemned the shooting.Â
Nevertheless, Patrick wasn’t the only Texas Republican state lawmaker to blame Black Lives Matter. From GOP state Rep. Bill Zedler of Arlington: Â
Meanwhile, Texas GOP Congressman Roger Williams implicated President Barack Obama in the shooting.Â