Many are calling Mark Robinsonβs remarks at a southeast North Carolina church last month βincendiaryβ and βbizarreβ after a 30-minute speech where he endorsed violence, saying βsome folks need killing.β
The North Carolina Lt. Governor left churchgoers shocked, with many not knowing exactly how to respond to his remarks. βYou know, thereβs a time when we used to meet evil on the battlefield and guess what we did to it? We killed it,β he said while referring to the United States bombing of Japan in 1945. Robinson also mentioned Nazi Germany: βNo, theyβre bad. Kill them.β
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Robinson even called for the βguys in greenβ and βboys in blueβ to handle βwicked people doing wicked things [like] torturing and murdering and raping.β He called out the Democrats: βSome liberal somewhere is gonna say that sounds awful. Too bad!β
Sparse applause from members of the Lake Church followed his statement.
Robinson went on to warn churchgoers that liberals are βwatching us. Theyβre listening to us. Theyβre tracking us. They get mad at you. They cancel you. They dox you. They kick you off social media. They come in and close down your business.β
The GOP nominee has garnered a reputation of controversial political agendas and divisive statements and conspiracy theories. Most famously, Robinson has called for a complete ban on all abortions, claiming when a woman becomes pregnant, βitβs not [her] body anymore.β
Robinson also has strong views on the LGBTQ community, saying trans people should βfind a corner outside somewhereβ instead of using public restrooms, and he has even referred to BeyoncΓ© as βsatanic.β
Coming to Robinsonβs defense, Lake Church Rev. Cameron McGill said Robinson βcertainly did not imply the taking of any innocent lives.β He clarified that βWithout a doubt, those he deemed worthy of death [were] those seeking to kill us.β
A spokesperson for Robinsonβs gubernatorial campaign told NewsNation that Robinsonβs comments only referred to the Japanese and Nazis of WWII.
βMark Robinsonβs repeated and repulsively violent rhetoric fits into his pattern of spewing division and hate rather than serving North Carolina families,β said a representative for Attorney General Josh Steinβs gubernatorial campaign. βWe cannot have a governor who calls for extrajudicial killings. Mark Robinson is divisive and dangerous.β
Robinson has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The GOP nominee is set to face Stein in the November election for governor of North Carolina.
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