While some media figures, including CNN’s Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo, have defended the police officer’s use of force in the Ma’Khia Bryant shooting, others, such as former MSNBC host Touré and Women’s March leader Linda Sarsour, have characterized Bryant’s violent aggression as a simple schoolyard fight that did not require deadly force.
In his Twitter rant, Touré claimed that as many as four cops were on the scene when the officer shot Bryant and characterized the officer as some lone, trigger-happy aggressor.
“There were at least four cops on the scene when Ma’Khia was shot. Only one thought to pull out his gun and start firing. None of the others thought that was appropriate. You may think it’s obvious that she had to be shot but 3 out of the 4 officers who were there disagree,” said Touré.
There were at least four cops on the scene when Ma’Khia was shot. Only one thought to pull out his gun and start firing. None of the others thought that was appropriate. You may think it’s obvious that she had to be shot but 3 out of the 4 officers who were there disagree.
— Young Daddy (@Toure) April 22, 2021
Touré then responded to a tweet from Linda Sarsour, who likened the potential stabbing of a teenage girl to a common schoolyard fight.
“Reflecting on my time as a student at John Jay High School in Brooklyn during the height of gangs in NYC watching unarmed Black women school security officers break up fights between students who had razors, sometimes box cutters & not once did a cop have to come & shoot a kid,” said Linda Sarsour.
Reflecting on my time as a student at John Jay High School in Brooklyn during the height of gangs in NYC watching unarmed Black women school security officers break up fights between students who had razors, sometimes box cutters & not once did a cop have to come & shoot a kid.
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) April 21, 2021
“Several people have said exactly this today. Just because people are fighting with knives does not mean you have to shoot someone to break it up,” responded Touré, despite the fact that a black teenage girl could have died if the cop didn’t intervene.
“Has the right ever cared about the life of a Black person as much as they now care about the life of the girl in the pink sweatsuit? Her Black life matters to them. Immensely,” he later added.
Several people have said exactly this today. Just because people are fighting with knives does not mean you have to shoot someone to break it up. https://t.co/Ck1sNf2Ai3
— Young Daddy (@Toure) April 22, 2021
Has the right ever cared about the life of a Black person as much as they now care about the life of the girl in the pink sweatsuit? Her Black life matters to them. Immensely.
— Young Daddy (@Toure) April 22, 2021
On Wednesday, Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo shocked the world when they both seemed to agree that the police officer made the right decision to use deadly force in this case.
“We have to be fair about what happens when police arrive at scenes,” Lemon said. “It is tragic that it’s a 16-year-old girl. Just as it is tragic that it’s a 13-year-old in Chicago. When police are chasing people, they don’t know how old they are. And they don’t run and say, ‘How old are you?’ ‘Oh, I’m 13.’ You don’t know that. Or, ‘I’m 16.’”
“When they roll up on the scene, they see people tussling around. Someone has a knife,” he continued. “And their job is to protect and serve. Every life on that scene. And if they see someone who is in the process of taking a life, what is that decision, what decision do they have to make?”
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated for clarity.
Related: WATCH: Don Lemon, Chris Cuomo Agree Ohio Police Officer Had To Shoot Ma’Khia Bryant