CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — During a Black History Month speech at St. Sabina Catholic Church Sunday morning, activist and philosopher Cornel West lashed out at police leadership for the death of Tyre Nichols.
West preached it was Memphis police leaders — not just the five officers whom he called “Black gangster police” — that bear responsibility for Nichols’ death.
“They know about that unit,” West said. “That’s been going on day in, and day out, not just in Memphis: in Chicago, in New York, in Los Angeles, in Detroit.”
West spoke for about 45 minutes from an altar adorned with pictures of Nichols, George Flloyd, Laquan McDonald and others. He said police protect and serve in white parts of town but contain and suppress in poor, Black communities.
He also questioned opposition to critical race theory. West told a packed house, which included actor John Cusack and poet Haki Madhutbuti, that it is simply looking at history through the lens of people enslaved and discriminated against.
“Is that too much for you?” West said. “If you can’t take that kind of truth, you are going to lose your empire, you’re going to lose your democratic practices, you’re going to end up with fascism taking over in the name of making America great again.”
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West directed his ire at President Joe Biden for his ties to Wall Street and continuing to use drones in war, saying they often hit children who are just as precious as those here in Chicago.
The historian and scholar also chastised young people for seeking fame and celebrity instead of what he sees as the moral work of racial justice.
“That somehow people recognize you as famous, as if that has spiritual content and moral substance without you doing something,” West said.
West added that his movement isn’t tied up in race.
“They think, ‘Oh, it’s tribal, you’re just helping those Black folk because they’re Black,’” he said. “No. You missed the memo. I’m fighting for the poor, white brothers and sisters, too.”
The recently reinstated Fr. Michael Pfleger introduced West as his mentor and friend.
West said God is not done with the priest yet.
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