Baltimore Councilman Carl Stokes: Thug is the new N-word

Carl Stokes Screenshot Screen Shot 2015-04-29 at 4.08.53 PM
Carl Stokes screengrab

Maryland state sen. Catherine Pugh definitely put things in perspective when she told FOX News anchor Geraldo Rivera media was inciting protestors to riot in Baltimore this week, following the funeral of Freddie Gray, 25, whose spine was severed while in police custody.

During an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, who referenced Baltimore protestors as “thugs,” councilman Carl Stokes fired back. “Our issue is justice being served. There are few aberrant…. but the greater majority are standing up for justice, for Freddie Gray and those who have been killed and brutalized in Baltimore,” he starts.


Burnett who believes she has name calling rights defends her positions by saying Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and President Barack Obama referenced the rioters as “criminals” and “thugs.” She asked Stokes, “Isn’t that the right word?”

He started responding by saying “No it’s not right to call our children thugs … children who have been set aside, marginalized, who have not been engaged by us…,” next thing you know, Burnett interrupted, whining, “But how does that justify what they did?”


He retorts, “Call them thugs…call them n*******, just call them n******s. You wouldn’t call your children thugs.”

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