On Tuesday’s CBS This Morning, co-host Gayle King kept up her staunch defense of the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the Dallas shooting. After interviewing a family that attended the protest which preceded the sniper attack on police, King proclaimed: “The thing they wanted to stress most is that Black Lives Matter didn't have anything to do with the shooting....the shooter was someone who had nothing to do with the cause and has sort of tainted the movement...”
King continued: “That before that shooting that it was a very peaceful protest. That the protesters and the police officers were actually hugging each other and congratulating each other for bringing the message to public.”
Later in the show, during an interview with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, King blasted former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani over his criticism of Black Lives Matter: “You know, when you talk about demonization, a lot of people are still talking about Rudy Giuliani's comment about Black Lives Matter that it is inherently racist. And everyone I’ve talked to associated with the Black Lives movement says that is absolutely not the case, that they care very deeply about police officers.”
Rawlings, a Democrat, responded: “I'll tell you, our police officers died for Black Lives Matter movement. We were there protecting those individuals. That is not a racist organization. They're trying to do better.”
Here is a full transcript of King’s exchange with Rawlings:
8:33 AM ET
NORAH O’DONNELL: We've been following the news today because President Obama is expected to speak in Dallas later today, as well as former President George W. Bush. Let's go now to Gayle King who is there. Gayle?
GAYLE KING: Yes, we are here, Norah, in front of police headquarters, in front of an ever-growing memorial. They tell us that it started with one car. It became so great that they added another car. And people are still coming to bring flowers here. Somebody just brought another bouquet here, that’s how much the police department is loved.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings is with us now from the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center where today’s memorial for the killed officers will be held. Mr. Mayor, we thank you so much for joining us today, we really appreciate it.
MIKE RAWLINGS: Good morning, Gayle.
KING: Good morning to you. You know, somebody I talked to, one of the survivors, who said what happened in this city – we are defined by what happened in this city and how we feel about our police department. I would imagine you agree with that?
RAWLINGS: I do. You know, sometimes it takes a bright light to shine on you to understand what you really are. Sometimes good, but I'll tell you, I feel all about the good things that are happening in this city. People are telling me, citizens and neighbors, people from other places, saying Dallas is showing well. And we hope, we mourn the way America would like us to mourn.
KING: I saw something in the paper the other day, the headline said, “What kind of city are we and what kind do we want to be?” What's your answer to that?
RAWLINGS: I'll tell you, I think we want to be a city for the 21st century. A city that is growing – its base is business, we will always be business – but that creates jobs for everybody. That closes the economic gap that we have. That closes the education gap that we have. That is strong, is safe. There's a lot of work to be done. Make sure that faith community always is there. But we're well on our way. And hopefully, if anything comes out of these officers' deaths, hopefully, it will be us getting closer to that vision.
KING: I want to talk to you about the memorial service later today. And the President is coming, as you know. But yesterday, law enforcement official had a private meeting with the President. And they told them that they did not believe that they were supportive – that he was supportive of their concerns. I know that you have had conversations with President Obama. Do you agree with that?
RAWLINGS: I don't. I've talked to the President, and he has reached out a couple of times. I was at a U.S. Conference of Mayor's meeting, where he spoke about it as well. He's told me that. The words that come out of leaders are important. And we've got to always believe we can do better. But it's got to start with our self-esteem as a police force. And understand that 99% of what they do is what we want and that we're proud of them. Sometimes, people hear what they want to hear in those conversations.
KING: You know, when you talk about leaders, everybody who I've met so far has talked about Chief Brown and the type of leader that he is. And yesterday, at the news conference, he said, “Listen, get off the protest line and join the police department.” He said himself he grew up here, he wanted to be part of the solution. What do you think of that advice?
RAWLINGS: I think that's great advice. That's the sort of heroes that we need. He likened our police officers to superheroes last night. And I agree with him. Look, we can dissent without demonizing. And I think we've demonized our police force for too long. And we have to stop that. We will always get better, but we have to salute them, because as we've seen, they do die for us.
KING: You know, when you talk about demonization, a lot of people are still talking about Rudy Giuliani's comment about Black Lives Matter that it is inherently racist. And everyone I’ve talked to associated with the Black Lives movement says that is absolutely not the case, that they care very deeply about police officers. What do you make of that?
RAWLINGS: I'll tell you, our police officers died for Black Lives Matter movement. We were there protecting those individuals. That is not a racist organization. They're trying to do better. But I ask everybody to start at the level playing ground that our police are there to serve them and to serve everyone.
KING: Thank you, Mayor Rawlings. At the very least, people say at least we're starting the conversation. And that is very, very important. We thank you so much for joining us today. We really appreciate it. Norah, back to you.
RAWLINGS: Thank you.
O’DONNELL: Alright, Gayle, thank you so much.
