Liberal movie director Spike Lee slammed the National Rifle Association on Monday's CNN Tonight, as he promoted his new movie, Chi-raq. Host Don Lemon pointed out to Lee, "You take on the NRA in the film." Lee replied, "Well, we have to. I think that we're at the tyranny on (sic) the NRA and the gun manufacturers, because there's a profit...in what they do. And that means that...they're putting profits over a human life." Lemon then sang the praises of the film: "And you think that can be changed....I'd tell everybody: go see this movie now."
Moments earlier, the filmmaker gave his explanation for the rampant gun violence in inner cities: "We have to give our young people a reason to keep living. I talk to these guys. They're okay if they don't live past 18....And we fail our youth, I feel, if they don't feel, like, life isn't worth living. And if they don't feel like life is worth living...then they'll go out and shoot people left and right — and that's what's happening."
Earlier in the day, on NBC's Today, Lee asserted that "it's easier for an African-American, a black person, to be President of the United States than to be president of a Hollywood studio or TV network cable."
The transcript of the relevant portion of the Spike Lee segment from the December 1, 2015 edition of CNN Tonight:
DON LEMON: Did you — when you were in Chicago, did you ever feel that you weren't safe?
SPIKE LEE, FILMMAKER, "CHI-RAQ": No, because we had NYP (sic) —I'm telling you, when we were filming there (laughs), we were the safest spot on the South Side, because we had police around us.
[CNN Graphic: "America In Black And White: Spike Lee's 'Chi-Raq'"]
LEMON: I went there a couple years ago, and interviewed gang-bangers and drug dealers; and, of course, I didn't show their faces—
LEE: Right—
LEMON: Whatever, in the middle of the night — and there was a point where we had to get out of there. But we had former drug members who had now become community activists—
LEE: Right — like 'Peacekeepers'—
LEMON: Who were watching us. They were — who were watching us. It's tough. It's real. People are — listen, it's awful what happens, but they will tell you, I'm just trying to make a living.
LEE: Well, here's the thing — and I — we have to give our young people — not just black; you know, not just African-American — we have to give our young people a reason to keep living. I talk to these guys. They're okay if they don't live past 18. I mean, a human life is the most precious thing you can have. And we fail our youth, I feel, if they don't feel, like, life isn't worth living. And if they don't feel like life is worth living — if they don't feel like life is worth living, then they'll go out and shoot people left and right — and that's what's happening.
[CNN Graphic: "Spike Lee: 'We've Failed Our Youth'"]
LEMON: So then, what do you do? When I was talking — when I said to you, I don't hear people talking to the community, how do you change that?
LEE: Well, you need Father [Michael] Phleger (laughs)—
LEMON: Yeah — right—
LEE: To answer that one. But something has to be done. And many times, I've been asked — and I'm doing publicity for a film — so Spike, what do you want people to come out of theater thinking about? Usually I say, oh, they are smart. They can figure it out. I'm not going to — for this one, when you come out of this theater —hopefully, you will, opening December 4 — we got to start things seriously about guns in this country — gun violence. That — that's—
[CNN Graphic: "Spike Lee On Gun Violence"]
LEMON: You take on the NRA in the film.
LEE: Well, we have to. I think that we're at the — the tyranny on (sic) the NRA and the gun manufacturers, because there's — there's a profit, you know, in — in what they do. And that means that they're putting life — you know, they're putting profits over a human life. That's my opinion.
[CNN Graphic: "Spike Lee On 'Tyranny Of The N.R.A.'; Spike Lee: 'They're Putting Profits Over Human Life'"]
LEMON: And you think that can be changed. Again, if people don't go see this movie now, I mean, come on — really — I think—
LEE: No. Look, I'm not — they're going to see it, but I don't want them to wait until Amazon Prime. (Lee and Lemon laugh) See it in a movie theater!
LEMON: I'd tell everybody: go see this movie now—
LEE: Thank you—
LEMON: Go see this movie.
