Tucker Carlson Says Corporations Donating to BLM Are Paying for Riots That Annihilate Small Businesses

As a number of corporations move to support Black Lives Matter and other such groups, Fox News host Tucker Carlson has accused the businesses of funding rioting.

Widespread protests are being held across the United States, following the death of George Floyd.

Organizers have encouraged peaceful protesting, with many participating in demonstrations in such a manner. However, some have used the protests as an opportunity for violent actions, including looting, though concerns have been raised that external groups have "hijacked" the situation to commit such acts.

A number of brands and other organizations have expressed support for demonstrations, with some financially donating to associated causes.

Carlson has said corporations support for the protests is "paying for" riots.

"But corporations aren't simply tweeting their support for the riots, they're paying for them to," he said.

Carlson listed companies including Cisco, Intel, Ubisoft, Airbnb and Dropbox, who have all made funds available to groups such as Black Lives Matter (BLM) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He also criticized Pepsi, stating it had supported similar causes.

Newsweek has contacted the corporations mentioned and Fox News for comment.

Carlson referred to a quote that "a riot is the voice of the unheard," a phrase which has origins from civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King Jr, who said "a riot is the language of the unheard."

Criticizing this, Carlson said: "The rioters burning down your city with the support of virtually everyone richer than you, are 'unheard', you, by contrast, are the oppressor and if you disagree in any way, we are going to fire you and wreck your life."

Continuing to critique the corporations, Carlson suggested they should support small businesses.

"All this money, flowing out of the country's most profitable corporations, it might be a nice gesture for those corporations to donate some money to, I dunno, rebuild some of the small businesses that have been destroyed over the past week," he said.

"Oh but they're not going to do that, because for a lot of big corporations the total annihilation of small businesses is one of the best parts of this new revolution, there's always an angle, someone's always getting more powerful."

In regards to the groups being supported, Carlson took issue with BLM for calling for police to be defunded, while criticizing support for bail funds from the NAACP.

Newsweek has contacted both groups for comment.

The death Floyd, who died after a police officer put his knee on his neck while arresting him in Minneapolis, has sparked worldwide demonstrations.

During these there have been outbreaks of unrest, with clashes seen between authorities and those gathered.

Fires have been lit amid protests, with businesses and buildings such as police precincts targeted.

President Donald Trump has been criticized for his response to such incidents, having previously tweeted "once the looting starts, the shooting starts." He has urged a heavy response to quell unrest, urging the use of the National Guard and suggesting he could deploy the military if the situation is not dealt with to his liking.