Despite watching both Alton Sterling and Philando Castile die on camera at the hands of police, there is a population of skeptics who still feel the need to blame black people for “putting themselves in that situation”. Well, add former NYPD detective Harry Houck into the mix.
During a CNN panel discussion about the recent tragedies, Houck pulled out what he thought would be enough of a receipt to argue that black people commit more crimes than white people. His theory set out to prove that blacks have a higher likelihood of becoming criminals.
“That’s why there are more blacks in jail than there are whites,” Houck claimed. “They turn it around — the racial demagogues out there — turn it around that the blacks are being picked on.”
CNN commentator Marc Lamont Hill wasn’t having it and tried to throw Houck a lifeline.
Hill: “Harry just went on national TV and said black people are prone to criminality.”
Houck: “Well, they are.”
Hill: “You think black people are prone to criminality? You don’t mean to say that. I’m going to give you a chance to correct [yourself]. You don’t mean that black people are prone to criminality.”
In the tense back and forth, Hill used the Department of Justice report on the Ferguson, Missouri police department and the alarming rate of racism uncovered to strengthen his argument.
Houck wouldn’t budge.
To think, this man was actually a police officer once upon a time. Watch how the heated discussion went down.
