Former President Bill Clinton defended his wife Hillary Clinton from protesters who criticized her for using the term “super predators” to describe those connected to gangs, who need to “be brought to heel” because of their crimes.
As First Lady, Hillary made the remarks in 1996 to support then Pres. Bill Clinton decision in signing the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act.
Activists from Black Lives Matter protest movement have been circulating Hillary’s comments in 1994 defending the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act signed by her husband. The activist believed that Hillary’s comments were racially insensitive.
Some protesters heckled Bill Clinton and held signs including one that read, read “Clinton Crime Bill Destroyed Our Communities,” during a campaign rally for Hillary in Philadelphia.
During the rally, Bill Clinton pointed out to the protesters that Hillary made those remarks in 1994 to describe the gang leaders who destroyed the life of teenagers, who ended up killing their fellow African-Americans.
“I don’t know how you would characterize the gang leaders who got 13-year-old kids hopped on crack and sent them out on the street to murder other African-American children. Maybe you thought they were good citizens. She didn’t. You are defending the people who killed the lives you say matter. Tell the truth,” said Bill Clinton to the protesters.
During the event, Bill Clinton also emphasized that his wife didn’t vote for the crime bill because she wasn’t a senator at the time.
Hillary already told protestors upset by her remarks that she regrets using the term.
Bill Clinton regrets rebuking protesters
Bill Clinton offered a near-apology the following day after rebuking the protesters during a campaign event Philadelphia.
On Friday, the former President said he believes and welcomes protests, but it “bothers” him when he was being interrupted. According to him, Americans needs to be able to have conversations even when they are angry— a standard he failed to meet at the campaign rally on Thursday.
“So I did something yesterday in Philadelphia. I almost wanted to apologize for it, but I want to use it as an example of the danger threatening our country. I realized, finally, I was talking past her in the way she was talking past me. We got to stop that in this country. We got to listen to each other,” said Bill Clinton.
The handful of protesters at the Hillary Clinton presidential rally were objecting to welfare reform and gun violence laws passed when he was in office 20 years ago.
Last year, the former President said he regrets signing the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act in 1994 citing the reason that it contributed to the high rate of imprisonment of black people for non-violent crimes.
