Bakari Sellers launched into a lecture after he didn’t like what fellow panelist Kevin O’Leary had to say.
The panel was having a discussion on the current redistricting drama, which has resulted in the Supreme Court clearing the way for Alabama to use a redrawn congressional map that would eliminate a majority-black district. O’Leary suggested that people “get over” their negative feelings on the matter, and Sellers did not take too kindly to that.
Watch:
“I think everybody should take confidence in the fact the Supreme Court basically supported one vote, one person, guaranteed in perpetuity, and the rest is just map wars,” O’Leary said. “I think we should get used to it. And I think it’s, as you said, a state-based situation. Add this to the mix. At the end of the day, the state decides at the state level, it’s in the Constitution. Get over it.”
“The problem with that sentiment is that you were born in 1954. You’re 71. In 1954, during your lifetime, we actually had Brown v. Board of Education—” Sellers started.
“I remember,” O’Leary said.
“I don’t know how you remember,” Sellers scoffed. “I think you were like two months old.”
“You have to drill back to ’54?” O’Leary asked.
“Let me finish,” Sellers said. “Yeah, because you’re still alive, right? So there is an entire generation of people — Brown v. Board, it overturned Plessy v. Ferguson of 1896—”
“And your point is? Bring it, bring it, bring it,” O’Leary butted in.
“My point is that my mother was born in 1951,” Sellers continued. “She desegregated schools. My father was shot in the civil rights movement—”
“And?” O’Leary said.
“I’m going to finish because you’re being utterly disrespectful,” Sellers said.
“Not at all,” O’Leary argued.
“So I’m going to finish this comment. So what I’m telling you is that there are people in this country who fought, died, and bled for the right to vote. Don’t be a d*Ik. Just understand. Just understand,” Sellers pressed.
“The Constitution is being upheld. Do you have a problem with the Constitution of the United States of America?” O’Leary grilled.
At this point, host Abby Phillip interrupted the tense exchange to encourage the men to engage with each other respectfully, but they immediately began speaking over each other again.
“I want you to understand that there is a price that was paid for this right. There is a price that we uphold. And whether or not you value that, whether or not you value that or not, there are people who bled, sweat and died and were imprisoned for access to the ballot box. And what we‘re seeing throughout the south is that their voice, their vote, their representation, and people who have lived experiences to represent them are not being sent to Congress or where they need to go,” Sellers said.
“They still have access,” O’Leary pointed out.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.