Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) posted, then deleted, a tweet calling for “war” against President Obama in the aftermath of the Dallas police shootings.
Walsh also threatened the Black Lives Matter movement in his late Thursday tweet, CNN reported.
“3 Dallas cops killed, 7 wounded. This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you.”
ICYMI: Joe Walsh’s now-deleted tweet. pic.twitter.com/AFsNjxpddU
— Rachel Leibrock (@RachelLeibrock) July 8, 2016
{mosads}The tweet drew immediate backlash when it was posted. It had been retweeted more than 2,000 times before it was deleted.
After deleting it, Walsh defended the post, saying rhetoric from Obama and Black Lives Matter protesters endangers law enforcement.
He also linked the media with the attacks.
I wasn’t calling for violence, against Obama or anyone. Obama’s words & BLM’s deeds have gotten cops killed. Time for us to defend our cops.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
It’s time 4 patriotic Americans to stand up & stand against all the Cop haters – from Obama to the thugs on the street.
It’s way past time.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
5 Cops killed last night & the media is shocked. Shocked? Crack me up. The media fans the meme of bad, racist Cops and now they’re shocked?
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
5 Dallas Cops were assassinated last night and CNN is giving airtime right now to people in Minn calling cops racist murderers.
Just sick.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
Five police officers were killed and seven injured by sniper fire in Dallas late Thursday evening. Two civilians were also shot and injured.
Four people with rifles are suspected in the attack, one of whom was killed when a police robot detonated an explosive.
The killings took place amid a protest against deadly force by police officers against African-Americans nationwide.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown on Friday said the suspect who died “wanted to kill white people, especially white officers.”
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