On Friday afternoon, Black Lives Matter activists finally succeeded in disrupting one of Hillary Clinton’s campaign rallies after having staged similar protests at campaign events for Clinton’s fellow Democratic candidates, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley. According to CNN, Clinton was speaking at Clark Atlanta University, a historically black university in Georgia, when several Black Lives Matter protesters marched into the room and began chanting and singing. Responding to the activist’s initial signature chants, Clinton quickly responded, “Yes they do and I’m gonna talk a lot about that in a minute.” The candidate then tried to patiently and awkwardly wait out the protest, before just attempting to continue speaking, shouting over the chants and songs.
“I have some issues to discuss and proposals to make if our friends will allow me to do it. They may actually find them to their liking,” Clinton said. After a previous, unsuccessful attempt by BLM activists to disrupt one of her events, Clinton spent several somewhat-strained minutes speaking with the would-be protesters afterwards. On Friday, the protest continued for about fifteen minutes and eventually drew an intervention from Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, who introduced Clinton at the event. Many in the mostly black audience had grown frustrated as well, chanting “Let her talk!” in an attempt to quiet the activists.
After the protesters were escorted out of the event, Clinton told the crowd, “I appreciate their passion. I’m sorry they didn’t listen, because some of what they demanded I am offering and intend to fight for as president.”
Here is some footage of the beginning of the protest:
