CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers let tears loose on the air following an interview the network conducted with George Floyd’s brother.
Sellers gave an emotional reaction on Thursday to a Wednesday interview with Floyd’s brother gave, citing the words of a civil rights movement activist about freedom for black Americans.
“Ella Baker said, ‘Until the killing of black men, black mother’s sons become as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.’ She said that in 1964, and we’re still echoing those same cries today. It was hard to listen to that interview,” he said before beginning to sob.
“It’s just so much pain. You get so tired. We have black children. I have a 15-year-old daughter. I mean, what do I tell her? I’m raising a son. I have no idea what to tell him. It’s just — it’s hard being black in this country when your life is not valued,” he continued. “You put me on after his brother, and I feel like I lost my brother … For those of us who have a mistrust of the system, it’s very hard for us to do anything else other than just to cry this morning.”
Protests in Minneapolis began on Tuesday after video emerged online of a city police officer kneeling on the neck of Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, for approximately eight minutes until he became unresponsive and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Riots continued Wednesday night and descended into chaos after looters began stealing from businesses. Footage shared online showed multiple buildings on fire. Local media reported that an AutoZone, a retail store selling automotive equipment, was burned down at about 9:30 p.m local time. Police used tear gas on violent demonstrators both nights as some threw water bottles, rocks, and other debris at officers.
President Trump announced on Twitter that the FBI and Department of Justice were investigating Floyd’s death at his request, writing: “My heart goes out to George’s family and friends. Justice will be served!”
