A Republican congressman who represents the Charlotte area said Thursday people are protesting in the city because they "hate white people." U.S. Representative Robert Pittenger, whose district includes parts of Charlotte and its suburbs, was asked by an interviewer for Britain's BBC Newsnight what grievance the protesters have. In the video posted online Thursday, Pittenger responded: "The grievance in their mind is — the animus, the anger — they hate white people because white people are successful and they're not." Protesters in #Charlotte "hate white people" - North Carolina Congressman Pittenger tells #newsnight https://t.co/q6ELYD01QV — @BBCNewsnightHe also complained the government has spent too much on welfare programs that ultimately hold people back. The North Carolina Democratic Party released a statement saying Pittenger's remarks were inexcusable and accused him of "fanning the flames of hate with his racist rhetoric."

Source: CBC News September 23, 2016 16:25 UTC