Rapper Safaree Samuels protested New York City’s proposed ban on selling fur by claiming that the legislation is meant to target the black community.
Samuels, wearing a long fur coat, joined approximately 150 protesters against the sales ban at City Hall on Wednesday.
Like any good social justice warrior, it seems that Samuels has figured out that the way to get what you want is to claim that stopping you is racist.
On Twitter, the “Love and Hip Hop” star claimed that the “fur ban is no different than laws targeting baggy pants that are done to hurt the black community.”
"Fur ban is no different than laws targeting baggy pants that are done to hurt the black community #nofurban don't mess with my drip" #NoFurBan @CoreyinNYC @bradlander @RLEspinal @HelenRosenthal @JustinBrannan
@SpeakerCojo @MarkLevineNYC @SpeakerCoJo— @IAMSAFAREE (@IAMSAFAREE) May 15, 2019
Samuels insisted that the potential ban is being done to “silence” people of color.
Fashion has long been a way that people of color express themselves. Banning fur is one more way to silence us. #NoFurBan @CoreyinNYC @bradlander @RLEspinal @HelenRosenthal @JustinBrannan
— @IAMSAFAREE (@IAMSAFAREE) May 15, 2019
“Fur has long held importance to the African American community, but groups like PETA equate the fight for civil rights with animal rights, comparing the American Kennel Club to the Ku Klux Klan and calling Aretha Franklin ‘a walrus in a cat costume,'” Samuels wrote in another tweet.
Fur has long held importance to the African American community, but groups like PETA equate the fight for civil rights with animal rights, comparing the American Kennel Club to the Ku Klux Klan and calling Aretha Franklin “a walrus in a cat costume.” #NoFurBan @CoreyinNYC
— @IAMSAFAREE (@IAMSAFAREE) May 15, 2019
During his passionate speech at City Hall, Samuels shouted, “Leave us alone! Stop picking on us. Our fur, our right! Our choice, our right!” He added, “How could these people have the nerve to come and tell us that we cannot buy, or these people cannot work and sell, fur. That is absolutely ridiculous and I’m not for it. That’s straight up bull. No fur ban!”
When Samuels was questioned about his position on the rampant animal cruelty in the fur industry, Samuels responded by saying, “I didn’t do it. Go to China with that. This is America,” according to a report from TMZ.
Whether you agree with the fur ban or not — it is extremely difficult to take this man’s arguments seriously.