CNN host W. Kamau Bell spoke at the “No Hate In The Bay” rally in Berkeley, California, over the weekend that featured Antifa violence.
The rally was organized in opposition to a “Patriot Prayer” event led by founder Joey Gibson, who has vehemently denounced neo-Nazis and white supremacists. The black-clad antifa protesters chased the small number of “Patriot Prayer” attendees out of the park and threatened and attacked right-wingers and journalists.
Bell, a comedian who hosts the CNN program “United Shades of America,” spoke at the rally and said, “when the Nazis leave, as they have left…you have to stand up for the brown people, the black people, the LGBT people, the immigrants–everybody everyday!”
WATCH:
.@wkamaubell: “Bye Nazis!” @KQEDnews pic.twitter.com/MW2VJXzfrn
— Bert Johnson (@bertjohnsonfoto) August 27, 2017
Bell later described his experience speaking at the event, explaining that he was “given the chance to speak” although he “wasn’t expecting it.” In none of the tweets about his speech did Bell denounce the violence of the Antifa groups who attended the rally.
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Today at the #NoHateintheBay rally in Berkeley I was given the chance to speak by @pastormykmac. I wasn’t expecting it.
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 28, 2017
Before I knew it, I was holding the mic. As a comedian you would think I’m always ready to grab the mic. I’m not that kind of comedian.
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 28, 2017
But I seized the mic and said I was against white supremacy. (No news to anyone.) & The mic began to cut out. They handed me a bullhorn…
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 28, 2017
I had never used one before. (I almost mentioned it but immediately thought better of it.) I kept going & then I was handed the mic again…
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 28, 2017
At this point I thought, “I should probably just wrap this up.” & I screamed the one point that I really wanted to make…
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 28, 2017
Berkeley shouldn’t just come together when the Nazis/KKK kids/Fault Right/white supremacists show up. We should be like this everyday…
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 28, 2017
At that point I screamed Berkeley should support Black ppl, Brown ppl, LGBT, & immigrants & the mic cut out & screamed “EVERYBODY EVERYDAY!”
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) August 28, 2017