Former U.S. Rep. Allen West (R-FL) is weighing in on remarks made by President Obama about Trayvon Martin’s death. And he’s not impressed.
Obama said Martin could have been him 35 years ago, and that African-Americans view the case “through a set of experiences and a history that doesn’t go away.”
West was turned off by Obama attempting to insert himself into the case:
“I believe it comes back to being a respectful young man and maybe that’s something that was missing out of President Obama and Trayvon Martin’s life.”
“But to try to [make this] a personal experience is just absolutely horrific.”
Obama said there are “few African American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store.”
“That includes me. There are very few African American men who haven’t had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars.”
West says he has never experienced the stereotypes Obama described.
“I don’t recall being followed in malls or shopping centers,” he said.
“I don’t recall car doors clicking locked when I walk across the street, And I definitely have not had women clutching their purses when I got on the elevator.”
In March, West railed against the police’s handling of the Martin case, calling it an “outrage.” He also added that race should not be brought into the matter:
“From my reading, it seems this young man was pursued and there was no probable cause to engage him, certainly not pursue and shoot him.”
“Let’s all be appalled at this instance not because of race, but simply because a young American man has lost his life, seemingly, for no reason.”
West retired from the military after a 22-year career and entered politics in 2008, losing his first run for U.S. Congress before winning a seat in 2010.
Last year, he lost his bid for a second term.