August 1, 2008, 10:49 am
Protesters Interrupt Obama Speech
“Barack Obama, what are you going to do for the black community?”
Amy Chozick reports from St. Petersburg, Fla., on the presidential race.
Barack Obama’s town hall meeting Friday on the economy was interrupted by protesters. Three African-American men stood up holding a banner that read: “Barack Obama, what are you going to do for the black community?”
Barack Obama faced protesters during a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Friday (AP)
The crowd tried to drown them out with chants of “Yes we can!” But the three protesters just stood there.
“It’s okay, you can ask a question later,” Obama said to the men.
“Yeah, that’s right,” they said. And Obama went back to delivering his speech on the economy.
UPDATE: The main protester got to ask the first question. He cited the way blacks were treated in post-Katrina New Orleans and other current events. “In the face of the numerous attacks that are made by the black community by the same U.S. government, the same government you want to be…Why is it you haven’t not one time spoken in the interests or even on behalf of the oppressed and exploited African community, the black community?”
The man was booed but Obama tried to silence the crowd. “This is democracy at work. He asked a legitimate question.”
“I think you’re misinformed when you say not one time. Every issue you’ve asked about, I have spoken about,” Obama said. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to always satisfy the way you want these issues framed. It gives you the option of voting for someone else. It gives you the option of running for office yourself. But the one thing that I think is important is that we are respectful towards each other and what is true is that I believe…the only way we’re going to solve our problems is that everyone comes together, black white.”