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“They don’t want equality, they want anarchy. They’re burning and looting our American businesses, they’re killing people,” Covington said of BLM.
Colby Covington has defended the controversial comments he made about the Black Lives Matter movement after his win against Tyron Woodley earlier this month.
The outspoken Covington told media after his stoppage win over Woodley that Black Lives Matter is a “joke” and the people associated with it are “complete terrorists”. Covington’s comments were disapproved by many, including some of the sponsors affiliated with the UFC such as Reebok.
Despite his comments receiving heavy criticism, Covington told Submission Radio he didn’t say anything about Black Lives Matter that they don’t advertise on their website.
“First off, I didn’t say anything that the BLM website doesn’t already advertise,” Covington said. “They advertise that they’re a Marxist group, they advertise that they are a communist group. It’s on their webpage, so it’s not like I said anything that wasn’t already stated and what they’re trying to get their point across as. They’re a domestic terrorist group, they’re a Marxist group.” (Transcription via Middle Easy)
On their website, Black Lives Matter state their mission “is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes”. Covington said the movement is political as the money raised by BLM goes to funding a democratic president in Joe Biden.
“They don’t want equality, they want anarchy. They’re burning and looting our American businesses, they’re killing people, they’re just putting innocent lives in danger. And for what? For what purpose? They don’t have an actual purpose. They’re being led by Democrats, they’re being led by Joe Biden, and they’re fighting for a cause that is non-existent. Where does the Black Lives Matter checks and donations go to? They go to funding a Democratic president.”
UFC president saw no issue with Covington’s comments, saying the promotion has always been about free speech and letting athletes express themselves without any restrictions.