Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blamed the Black Lives Matter movement for the shooting Thursday night that left five police officers dead in Dallas.
“I do blame people on social media with their hatred towards police,” Patrick said during an interview on Fox News on Friday, adding, “I do blame former Black Lives Matter protests.”
According to Patrick, the racial activists put law enforcement officers in danger by asking for and expecting their protection during protests. He also called them “hypocrites” for their actions during the shootings Thursday night.
“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!” a noticeably emotional Patrick said.
This tone was a stark departure from the statement he issued early Friday morning, calling for Texans to “stand united.”
In an open letter published first by the Dallas Morning News, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for unity.
“In the coming days, there will be those who foment distrust and fan the flames of dissension,” he wrote. “To come together — that would be the greatest rebuke to those who seek to tear us apart.”
Black Lives Matter has condemned the Dallas shooting, saying it does not represent their movement.
“Yesterday’s attack was the result of the actions of a lone gunman. To assign the actions of one person to an entire movement is dangerous and irresponsible,” the group said in a statement Friday.
