White House aide Omarosa Manigault attended the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention in New Orleans where she spoke on a panel about police brutality and quickly proved, once again, that all skin folk ain't kin folk. The panel discussion, titled "Black and Blue: Raising Our Sons, Protecting Our Communities," was hosted by longtime journalist Ed Gordon.
Manigault received a chilly reception from those who attended but the tension definitely heightened following questions regarding President Donald Trump's views on police brutality. When Gordon pressed her about her position as communications director for the White House's Office of Public Liaison and her view on the current state of the criminal justice system, the discussion quickly turned into a screaming match.
The last couple minutes of this video with the president of NABJ arguing with Ed Gordon DURING THE PANEL are gold. https://t.co/db3DmCRaTB
— Kimberly N. Foster (@KimberlyNFoster) August 11, 2017
Omarosa and Ed are on their feet, giving every single journalist in this room what they came for – drama. #NABJ17
pic.twitter.com/ZBmE502V1F— maya king (@mayaaliah) August 11, 2017
Omarosa just told this moderator, "Shame on you." His response literally included, "so here's what you're not gonna do…" #NABJ17
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) August 11, 2017
NABJ President just called the panel with Omarosa "spirited" and memorable.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 13, 2017
In the above video, Gordon blatantly asks Manigault how she "could sit in the White House" knowing Trump has made questionable remarks about police brutality. Manigault accused Gordon of being aggressive and asked him not to lecture her or interrupt her while she tried to share her story about the deaths of her father and brother at the hands of violence in Ohio.
The black community gave Manigault major side-eye when she initially joined the Trump administration. Those in attendance revealed on Twitter that the panel discussion ended with people turning their backs and walking out.
Attendees are standing and turning their backs to Omarosa Manigault's #NABJ17 panel participation. Others are walking out. pic.twitter.com/5nlB62HZ88
— Suzette Hackney (@suzyscribe) August 11, 2017
"If you thought you could come here as a rep of the WH without answering questions about Trump…"Ed Gordon is going in #blackandblue
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) August 11, 2017
As a lifetime member of the #NABJ , I am highly disappointed in the decision to invite Omarosa to the panel
— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) August 11, 2017
Before the end of the panel discussion Friday night, Manigault eventually said President Trump suggesting that police should be rough with suspects during arrests is wrong.