Posted on August 13, 2015

Jeb Bush Town Hall Ends with ‘Black Lives Matter’ Chants

Ashley Killough, CNN, August 13, 2015

Jeb Bush’s town hall in North Las Vegas on Wednesday ended abruptly after the Republican presidential candidate answered a question about racial inequality, and Black Lives Matter advocates began chanting as he made his exit.

The former Florida governor, whose campaign said he met with advocates before the event, was asked about his views on racial disparities in the criminal justice system that have been amplified by recent incidence of unarmed black men dying at the hands of white police officers.

Bush said “these problems have gotten worse in the last few years” and that communities “no longer trust the basic institutions in our society that they need to trust.”

He called on local leaders to get more engaged in recognizing the problem, adding that “perception becomes reality, and there is racism in America.”

“No one should deny that, although there’s been significant progress,” he added.

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After answering the question, he quickly ended his town hall without giving a final statement like he normally does and started working the room–shaking hands and greeting voters–as he began making his way out of the building, when a crowd of protesters began chanting “black lives matter.”

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