Conservative pundit and writer Thomas Sowell had nothing but criticism for Rev. Al Sharpton, calling the nationally known activist a race baiter who was using the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases for personal profit.
“[Mr. Sharpton] is a race hustler,” Mr. Sowell said during an interview with conservative radio host Laura Ingraham. “[He’s] very proficient at it.”
Mr. Sowell made the remarks while responding to Ms. Ingraham’s question of whether he’s ever met Mr. Sharpton in person.
“I have not had the pleasure, nor would it have been a pleasure for either of us,” Mr. Sowell said, The Daily Caller reported. “The man knows what he’s doing. He is a race hustler and very proficient at it and there’s no way I am going to talk him out of it. I would not be surprised if he doesn’t make 10 times the money I make. You don’t try to talk somebody into giving up 90 percent of his income.”
Mr. Sowell serves as a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute. Mr. Sharpton has been calling for those angered by the police killings of Garner and Brown to keep up the pressure on politicians to reform the criminal justice system.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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