Benjamin Crump, the lawyer for the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, defended 2016 GOP Presidential hopeful Ben Carson this week, calling Dr. Carson a role model and hero, also saying his comments on Muslims were misconstrued by the media and others.
From his Time op/ed:
“Weeks after his Ferguson visit, Carson was all over the news following his comments on how he does not advocate for a Muslim president,” Crump said. “Many people were offended and surprised to hear the world-renowned neurosurgeon express such views. I myself was taken aback and disagreed with his viewpoint. But I know him to be a good man with a lot of faith in God, and it is my belief that Carson’s comments were misconstrued.”
Crump also said Carson’s voice needs to be heard, praising the Detroit Doctor as a hero and role model with a history of serving the community.
“Carson does not have experience as a politician, and he still needs to learn how to talk like one. We may criticize him for things we don’t agree with, but this country still needs voices like his and mine. I believe there are certain innate life experiences that I have in common with candidate Carson because we are African-American men who have had to overcome certain societal obstacles that all African-American men face. I felt the same when Barack Obama was running for president.
Long before he decided to enter the political landscape, Carson did positive things for our community. His career as a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon, after growing up in a single-parent household in the slums of Detroit, is one that we must keep in mind as this election continues. He is too valuable for our community to lose, and regardless of my political affiliation, there is a part of me that wants him to do well. No matter the outcome of the presidential race, Carson’s credibility should be left undamaged because he will still be a role model and a hero for many Americans, especially African-Americans—including myself.”
