[CNBC Television] Black billionaire calls for Black Lives Matter political party

🎯 Загружено автоматически через бота: 🚫 Оригинал видео: 📺 Данное видео принадлежит каналу «CNBC Television» (@CNBCtelevision). Оно представлено в нашем сообществе исключительно в информационных, научных, образовательных или культурных целях. Наше сообщество не утверждает никаких прав на данное видео. Пожалуйста, поддержите автора, посетив его оригинальный канал. ✉️ Если у вас есть претензии к авторским правам на данное видео, пожалуйста, свяжитесь с нами по почте support@, и мы немедленно удалим его. 📃 Оригинальное описание: Robert Johnson, founder of BET Network and America’s first Black billionaire, joins “Squawk on the Street“ to discuss his call for Black Lives Matter to form a political party. Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, told CNBC on Tuesday that Black Americans should form their own political party to concentrate their electoral influence. “I’ve been convinced for a long time that 40 millions African Americans who tend to vote as a bloc in one of the two parties limit their leverage in getting action form both parties,” the 74-year-old Johnson said on “Squawk on the Street.” Johnson, who has previously called on the U.S. government to provide reparations for slavery, said the independent political party would stand for things “principally focused on the interests” of Black Americans. Last week, Johnson sent a letter to “Black Lives Matter Leaders and Supporters,” suggesting that “Black Lives Matter (BLM) consider establishing a formal independent political party. The party could be founded on the principle articulated by the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971.” He described the Congressional Black Caucus’ founding principle as Blacks having “no permanent friends, no permanent enemies ... just permanent interests.’” Johnson’s idea comes as waves of protests against racism and police brutality continue in cities across the U.S. following the killing last month of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by a White Minneapolis police officer, who has since been fired. “Had African American interests been embraced by one or two of the dominant parties, we wouldn’t have the tremendous social, economic, racial issues that we have now,” Johnson said. He said forming a new party would send a message that Democrats should not take the African American vote for granted and that Republicans should not ignore issues important to Black people. Johnson, founder and chairman of investment firm The RLJ Cos., said he does not believe the new party would be formed and field candidates in time for the November election, but he hopes conversations around its establishment would begin this year. Black Americans already possess clear political influence, Johnson said, citing their lower turnout in the 2016 presidential election compared with elections in 2008 and 2012 as one reason why Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump. Still, Clinton received 89% of the Black vote while Trump received 8%, according to CNN exit polls. Johnson also referred to the overwhelming support from Black voters for Joe Biden in his victory in the South Carolina’s Democratic primary, which reignited his stumbling campaign and help make him the presumptive nominee. But Biden’s suggestion in May that “you ain’t Black” if you vote for Trump instead of him demonstrates that Black voters are too often taken for granted, Johnson said. Biden later apologized for the remark, saying “I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.” “That someone could be so presumptuousness, that you have to vote for a Democrat or otherwise you’re not identified as Black, that is the principal reason why we need a Black party, independent, to change that kind of behavior,” said Johnson, who became the first Black billionaire in the U.S. when he sold BET to Viacom in 2001. He’s no longer on the Forbes billionaires list. Johnson has been a large Democratic donor over the years but also has spoken positively about Trump’s work on the U.S. economy. He said in 2016 that he turned down a position in Trump’s Cabinet, not over politics but because he said he could not deal with government red tape. On Tuesday, Johnson also commented on his call earlier this month on CNBC for $14 trillion of reparations for slavery. He said on “Squawk on the Street” that the question Americans should be asking about reparations is: “Why shouldn’t we do this?” For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: » Subscribe to CNBC TV: » Subscribe to CNBC: » Subscribe to CNBC Classic: Turn to CNBC TV for the latest stock market news and analysis. From market futures to live price updates CNBC is the leader in business news worldwide. Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: