Fox News talker: Ferguson mob 'incited' by Holder

Rev. Al Sharpton

Bob Massi, a legal analyst for Fox News, made a morning broadcast appearance to discuss the shootings of two police officers in Ferguson, laying the blame for the violence squarely at the feet of the Obama administration and Attorney General Eric Holder.

Massi referred to the recent release of the Department of Justice's report on Ferguson police, and its finding of systematic discrimination on the part of city officials toward the mostly minority community, and said Holder made inciteful statements about its contents.

"When you look at some of the words of Eric Holder," Massi said, during the "Fox & Friends" segment, "there was a way for him to present that report that doesn't incite that type of emotion."

Holder said on Friday that he would use all the power of the Justice Department to hold Ferguson officials accountable and to enact widespread city government reforms.

His exact words: "We are prepared to use all the power that we have ... to ensure that the situation changes there." And when asked if that potential action included dismantling the Ferguson Police Department, Holder said: "If that's what's necessary, we're prepared to do that."

Massi said Holder could have instead used calmer tones and less inflammatory language that would have given the protest movement some comfort, without inciting violent rallies.

"The attorney general of the United States, you don't make a statement like that," Massi said. "That sort of casts the net not only on Ferguson, but it's all about perception. When you cast the net, this incites race relations in this country worse than it's ever been. ... When you say you're going to dismantle a police department if they don't fix it, it incites race relations. It incites riots."

Massi also said the protests that began after Ferguson Police Chief Thomas Jackson announced his resignation actually began in the late-night hours.

He said, referring to the shootings of two Ferguson police officers that came on the heels of the protests: "Who goes together late at night unless it's designed ... [as] a predisposed move to cause this type of problem?"

The two officers who were shot were taken to a nearby hospital and treated for what various officials described as "serious" injuries. Both are expected to survive. Police on Thursday said they don't have suspects, yet, but the trajectory of the bullets seemed to indicate that the officers were targeted. Witnesses and police said the shots were fired from a crowd of protesters.

Tensions have been high in Ferguson for months, since the officer shooting of black teen Michael Brown and the subsequent clearing of that policeman, Darren Wilson, of any wrongdoing by a grand jury. Much of the tension has been blamed on the likes of civil rights activists, like Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, decrying any type of police violence against minority members of the community as based on racial discrimination.

As Massi commented on "Fox & Friends" on Thursday: "Where's Al Sharpton about the two police officers who just got shot? ... It is something that just seems like every week, the acrimony grows."

See WND's report on Ferguson:

'Race hustlers incited Ferguson violence'

Top cop says it's 'miracle' no officer shot earlier

Manhunt for 'sniper' who shot cops in Ferguson

Fox News Talker: Ferguson mob 'incited' by Holder

MSNBC host: 'What about disarming police?'

Ferguson mayor after cops shot