Pat Robertson Calls to Curb Police Violence
The Claim
Historically conservative televangelist Pat Robertson is “woke” to police brutality.
Emerging story
On April 15th, news platforms and surprised social media users began sharing a segment from televangelist Pat Robertson’s long running talk show, “The 700 Club.” In the clip, Robertson shares his views about the ongoing Derek Chauvin trial, and the recent fatal shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright.
Misbar’s Analysis
On Thursday's episode of his show The 700 Club, 91-year-old Pat Robertson made comments that were critical of the police force in general. He called himself “pro-police,” but speculated that low pay has impacted the quality of police performance. “We don’t have the finest in the police department,” he said. “We can’t have a bunch of clowns running around who are underpaid and who really are not the best and brightest.”
Regarding former officer Derek Chauvin, who is currently on trial for murder and manslaughter in the case of George Floyd, Robertson said, “They ought to put him under the jail.” In the case of Kim Potter, the officer who allegedly mistook her gun for her taser when she fatally shot Duane Wright, he demonstrated the weight of the two weapons. “You feel the difference,” he told his co-host, holding a gun in one hand and a yellow taser in the other. “There’s just no comparison. She shot that poor guy to death...If you can’t tell the difference in the feel of those things, it’s crazy.”
The comments came as a surprise because the majority of Pat Robertson’s audience is conservative, a group whose politics tend to be pro-police. His show The 700 Club began production in 1966 as a variety program that included bible study and Christian hymns, adding political commentary in the early 1980s. Robertson’s often extremely controversial views over issues such as women’s rights, LGBT rights, Muslims, and immigrants have been making headlines for decades.
This isn’t the first time he’s shared an opinion that contradicts the common positions of his political party. In the summer of 2020 he harshly criticized former President Trump’s response to nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd. He’s also expressed sympathy for people who have been incarcerated for marijuana related offenses, and advocated for legalization.
While Robertson’s statements on police are unexpected, his views don’t exactly align with most groups who are calling for systemic reform. Advocates such as the NAACP and Black Lives Matter are unlikely to include raising salaries as a solution to police related violence.
