MSNBC’s Jason Johnson’s reference to some of Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) presidential campaign staffers as an “island of misfit black girls” was met with swift blowback on social media, with many calling on the network to hold its political contributor accountable for his rhetoric.
The rebuke comes after Johnson, in a SiriusXM interview on Friday, said that “racist, liberal whites seem to love them some Bernie Sanders,” which also sparked condemnation of the Morgan State University journalism professor, including from Briahna Joy Gray, Sanders’s national press secretary.
Benjamin Dixon, a Sanders supporter and the editor-in-chief of the online publication Progressive Army, also slammed Johnson while appearing on MSNBC’s “The Beat” with Ari Melber.
“There is a large coalition of people who believe in what he’s trying to do for the working class because, quite frankly, there is a lot of black people who are working class and not just misfits, according to Dr. Jason Johnson of your network,” said Dixon.
“Shots fired, as they say,” Melber replied. “I’ll try to get you and Jason on a segment together so you guys can have that conversation.”
“Shots fired, as they say,” Melber replied. “I’ll try to get you and Jason on a segment together so you guys can have that conversation.”
The Hill has reached out to MSNBC for comment.