Ron Johnson faces criticism for “racist” comments about the uprising at the Capitol

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Her. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonGOP goes on the offensive against Biden relief law GOP senator says he may have felt unsafe if BLM stormed Capitol Ashcroft antifa refuses to replace Blunt in Missouri. (R-Wis.) Is criticized for comments about the January 6 attack on the Capitol, which at least one lawmaker in his home state has called “racist.”

Johnson said in an interview with radio host Joe Pagliarulo last week that he had no fear for his safety during the siege, but that it would have been possible if the rioters had joined “Black Lives Matter and Antifa”.

Now, if the tables were reversed – and Joe, this would get me in trouble – if the tables were reversed and [former] President TrumpDonald Trump Pompeo: A new deal with Iran would make the Middle East ‘less secure’ DNC prepares for interim push Biden struggles to unravel web of Trump immigration rules MORE won the election and that was tens of thousands of Black Lives Matter and antifa protesters, I might have been a little worried, ” the senator said.

The comments drew criticism from Democrats and others in the press and on social media who claimed that Johnson had in fact admitted that those who stormed the Capitol, murdered a police officer and seriously injured dozens of others were his own supporters, while protesters who stood speaking out against police brutality and racism were not.

“For him to say such a racist thing – it’s ridiculous,” Senator LaTonya Johnson (D), who is black, of Wisconsin told The Associated Press. “It’s an utterly racist comment and the insult to the injury is that he didn’t mind saying it in the position he holds, because for some reason this is just considered acceptable behavior for people who are in this state to live and be elected. “

“Ron Johnson’s racist remarks make it clear that he stands behind violent criminals who threaten our democracy,” tweeted Sarah Godlewski (D), the state’s treasurer.

Ron Johnson said the racist part out loud, the anti-Trump Lincoln Project organization added in a tweet.

The Hill has contacted Johnson’s office for comment.

At least five people died as a result of the attack on the Capitol, including a Capitol Police officer. Police officials reported in the days following the siege that dozens of officers were seriously injured as a result of the riot, including one who lost an eye. Two other officers died of suicide in the days following the attack. Dozens of Metropolitan Police officers were also injured.

“I have officers who were not given helmets before the attack and who suffered head injuries,” Capitol Police Union chairman Gus Papathanasiou told The Washington Post in January. “One officer has two cracked ribs and two broken intervertebral discs and another is stabbed with a metal fence, just to name a few injuries.”

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