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Home • News

Roy Moore Told A Black Man That America Was Great During Slavery

His comments resurfaced just days before the Alabama special election
Roy Moore Told A Black Man That America Was Great During Slavery
Joe Raedle—Getty Images
By Jamie Ducharme · Updated October 24, 2020

Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore is facing more heavy criticism on Twitter — for more than just the sexual misconduct allegations against him that have dominated headlines for weeks.

A comment Moore made at a Florence, Ala., rally in September resurfaced Thursday and struck a chord with many users on the social networking site, including African-American celebrities and politicians. At the rally, an African-American audience member asked Moore when America was last “great,” the Los Angeles Times reported in September. Moore responded in a way that appeared to condone, or at least downplay the impact of, slavery, the Times reported.

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“I think it was great at the time when families were united — even though we had slavery — they cared for one another…. Our families were strong, our country had a direction,” Moore said, according to the Times.

Months later, the comment has sparked intense backlash online, prompting everyone from New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker to actress Gabrielle Union to speak out.

 

Can't make this up -- Roy Moore said in September that the last time America was great was when we had slavery. (h/t @reckonalabama)https://t.co/NMF4BCQ6ZS pic.twitter.com/XbpPtdifuS

— Eric Columbus (@EricColumbus) December 7, 2017

No. No. No. No. No. No. No. https://t.co/5NN7tnZIYM

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) December 7, 2017

 

Roy Moore thinks America was greatest during slavery: “Our families were strong and our country had a direction.”

What direction is a nation headed when families are ripped apart, women are routinely raped & bodies viciously tortured and mutilated. https://t.co/zSTJGAbdTY

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) December 8, 2017

RED ALERT! I KID YOU NOT!!!

A Black man asked Roy Moore "When was the last time America was great?"

And Roy Moore said during slavery.

I'm dead serious. https://t.co/08ZtQYh7qi

— Shaun King (@shaunking) December 7, 2017

Greatness will NEVER include slavery. This is violent, inhumane thinking. And it is appalling to think, let alone express. #RoyMoore https://t.co/PTbaizQCfW

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) December 7, 2017

Roy Moore misses the days of slavery because "our families were strong" then. Never mind that slavery was a systematic assault on black families and mass rape of black women. https://t.co/GDlo7BPf8r

— Pema Levy (@pemalevy) December 7, 2017

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Friday morning tweeted his support for the former judge, writing, “VOTE ROY MOORE!”

This article originally appeared in TIME

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