During an interview with Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate on Friday, Vice President Mike Pence was asked repeatedly if he’ll say the phrase “Black Lives Matter,” and each time he refused, at one point even saying “all lives matter.”
“I wonder, sir, if those are words that you will utter right here today: ‘Black Lives Matter.’ Can you say those words?” Channel 6’s Brian Taff said.
“Well, Brian, let me just say that what happened to George Floyd was a tragedy, and in this nation, especially on Juneteenth, we celebrate the fact that from the founding of this nation, we celebrate the ideal that all of us are created equal, and endowed with certain inalienable rights, and so all lives matter in a very real sense,” Pence said before launching into a screed of various talking points.
“Forgive me for pressing you on this, sir, but I will note you did not say those words, ‘Black Lives Matter,’ and there is an important distinction,” Taff said. “Of course all lives matter, but to say the words is an acknowledgement that Black lives also matter at a time in this country when it appears that there’s a segment of our society that doesn’t agree. So why will you not say those words?”
“Well, I don’t accept the fact, Brian, that there’s a segment of American society that disagrees with the preciousness and importance of every human life,” Pence responded before regurgitating more talking points.
Watch the full exchange below:
See advertising below: