The Phoenix Metro Black Lives Matter collective is condemning comments made by public officials linking the organizing group to a shooting at the federal courthouse without any evidence.
After a security officer was shot outside the federal courthouse in Phoenix on Tuesday, city Councilman Sal DiCiccio tweeted the incident was a direct result of “extremist anti-police attacks we have seen from BLM and Antifa.”
Congressman Paul Gosar then shared the tweet with a warning about the “radical violent Left.”
And on Wednesday, Arizona Senate President Karen Fann released a statement linking protests against police to the shooting.
Phoenix Black Lives Matter organizer and spokesperson Jamaar Williams says the statements demonstrate a lack of understanding of the movement.
"We’re out here in response to grotesque violence," Williams said. "Our movement is a loving response out of seeing that — to support each other and to protect each other.”
The FBI says an individual connected to the shooting is in custody but no details have been given on a potential motive.
