Jussie Smollett was convicted of five counts of disorderly misconduct Thursday in Chicago for faking a hate crime in January 2019 – when Democratic presidential candidates rushed to declare their sympathy for him as a suspected victim .
As Washington post correspondent Dave Weigel underline earlier Thursday, ahead of the verdict, “all of the 2020 Dem major (not Buttigieg) rushed to comment, gullible, on the Jussie Smollett hoax.”
Here are some examples :
What happened today to @JussieSmollett should never be tolerated in this country. We must stand up and demand that we no longer give refuge to this hatred; that homophobia and racism have no place in our streets or in our hearts. We’re with you, Jussie. https://t.co/o8ilPu68CM
– Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 30, 2019
.@JussieSmollett is one of the nicest, sweetest human beings I know. I pray for his speedy recovery.
It was a modern day lynching attempt. No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or the color of their skin. We have to face this hatred.
– Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 29, 2019
The racist and homophobic attack on Jussie Smollett is a horrific example of the growing hostility towards minorities across the country. We must unite to eradicate all forms of sectarianism and violence. https://t.co/2accVEJrCG
– Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 29, 2019
Racism, homophobia and all forms of fanaticism and hatred have no place in this country. The fight for equality is not over – no one should have to live in fear of being beaten in the streets for who they are. https://t.co/CF0G95CkTc
– Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 29, 2019
The vicious attack on actor Jussie Smollett was a modern day lynching attempt. I’m glad he’s safe.
To those in Congress who don’t feel the urgency to pass our anti-lynching bill designating lynching as a federal hate crime – I urge you to be careful. https://t.co/EwXFxl5f2m
– Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 29, 2019
It is so heartbreaking. @JussieSmollett, you are not alone – we are with you. We must stand up and condemn this hatred, bigotry and violence everywhere they stick their ugly heads. No one should live in fear because of the color of their skin or who they love.
– Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) January 30, 2019
The media rushed to portray Smollett as the victim of a hate crime perpetrated by Trump supporters wearing MAGA hats in Chicago walking around in the wee hours of one of the coldest nights in living memory.
Because Smollett blamed Trump supporters as well as the perpetrators, his story was all too easily believed by the same press that eagerly promoted a variety of anti-Trump hoaxes, most notably the “collusion with Russia” hoax. , which would collapse during an actual investigation.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of the recent eBook Ni Free ni Fair: The 2020 US Presidential Election. His latest book, RED NOVEMBER, tells the story of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary from a conservative perspective. He is the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni scholarship recipient. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.