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Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City and current personal lawyer to Donald Trump, recently warned that Black Lives Matter is an anarchist organization that wants to dismantle the entire U.S. government and take Americans' homes away.
Giuliani made the claim during a longer rant on The Ingraham Angle, a Fox News program viewed by 3.6 million people, on average.
During an interview with host Laura Ingraham, the former mayor spent nearly a minute and a half deriding Black Lives Matter and its role in the recent nationwide protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.
Giuliani began the rant by lumping together Black Lives Matter, Antifa, and "the Communists," dubbing them an organized anarchist network.
"It should be quite plain to every American who can see through the propaganda that Antifa, Black Lives Matter, the Communists, and their allies are executing a plan they wrote about four or five years ago."
After attributing his claims to "their manifestos" written years ago, Giuliani touched on specifics.
"They wrote then they wanna do away with the police, they wanna empty out the prisons, they want to internationalize our government, they wanna do away with our system of courts, and they want to take your property away and give it to other people."
He then painted a villainous picture.
"This is an orchestrated effort. It is no longer a protest about Mr. Floyd. That ended a long time ago. This is a...an anarchist, organized anarchists supported with a lot of money."
Finally, after blaming all new virus cases on the protests, he attacked Black Lives Matter directly.
"People who say they're favorable to Black Lives Matter? Black Lives Matter wants to come and take your house away from you...."
Rudy Giuliani: "Black Lives Matter wants to come and take your house away from you. They want to take your property away from you...They are anarchists and they are anti-American" pic.twitter.com/AQXvc0YwkV
— Jason Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) June 23, 2020
Multiple reports refute Giuliani's claim that Antifa and Black Lives Matter have worked together.
The FBI has investigated the protests and concluded that no evidence suggests Antifa helped to plan them. In addition, NPR reported on June 9 that of 51 cases brought by the Justice Department following the unrest, zero involved members of Antifa.
Black Lives Matter has long maintained a deliberately decentralized structure, instead opting to create an atmosphere to empower countless local leaders and demands.
The organization has stated the ethos plainly on its website:
"It is adaptive and decentralized, with a set of guiding principles. Our goal is to support the development of new Black leaders, as well as create a network where Black people feel empowered to determine our destinies in our communities.
Twitter didn't hesitate to plow through Giuliani's logic.
The BLM Agenda:
1. We are tired of the police killing Black people. Cut it out.
2. We don't like the public shrines of racists erected to intimidate Black people. Get rid of them.
No mention of Rudy's apartment.
— David Todd McCarty (@davidtmccarty) June 23, 2020
Incendiary commentary!
As intelligent as @IngrahamAngle is, she seems to concur with him. Shame!
— BREONNA TAYLOR DESERVES JUSTICE!! (@Bulerious) June 24, 2020
For some, equality is oppression. The privileged never cedes power because they believe it means they lose something. It is always a struggle for those striving for equity.
— Tess (@Tess55140948) June 24, 2020
Ingraham would let him go on forever. They are afraid of the movement, that's for sure and using old scare tactics.
— Amber (@AmberAx5050fox) June 24, 2020
Others lampooned the former mayor more generally.
I just feel Rudy would be better off in an inpatient behavioral health ward getting the care he needs. He's not well.
— Joseph Leonardo (@DonaldsDone) June 24, 2020
What a disgusting man
— James Briedenhann (@AJBriedenhann) June 24, 2020
Rudy's trying to stay relevant but he's just a wasted piece of skin still begging for a cabinet job. Mr chicklits fails to incite.
— ALL CANADIANS AREN'T THAT NICE..sorry🇨🇦🐶🐱 (@WBOUCHER10) June 24, 2020
Rudy is increasingly desperate. Seems to get worse with each interview.
— Kat (@Kat9593) June 24, 2020
For others, Fox News and Laura Ingraham carried plenty of blame as well.
If Fox had any integrity at all, they'd pull racists Ingraham, Carlson & Pirro off the air entirely.
— Please! I Can't Breathe! (@CreechJeff) June 24, 2020
This is not politics.
This is hateful propaganda.
Advertisers on FoxNews are underwriting HATE.
It's not show-by-show.
The entire network and its advertisers MUST be held accountable.
— The Ghost of Ludwig Kaas (@LudwigsGhost) June 23, 2020
Anyone watching or advertising on @foxnews is complicit.
— TennisGreg (@Tennis_Pusher) June 23, 2020
Despite Giuliani's characterizations, protests continue across the United States.