Trevor Noah grills Tomi Lahren about ‘the right way’ for black people to protest in America

Conservative political commentator Tomi Lahren braved the lion’s den that is “The Daily Show” on Wednesday for a heated conversation with host Trevor Noah about race and protesters. 

Much like how Noah became popular for his witty yet unapologetic political takedowns during the election, Lahren rose in prominence because of her incendiary attacks on current events such as  the Black Lives Matter movement and even Colin Kaepernick. 

Noah got right to the point in kicking off the interview, asking Lahren why she was so angry. And while the segment did contain some lighter moments, such as Lahren’s response when asked if she considered herself a conservative, or what she does at a traffic light if she “doesn’t see color,” much of their dialogue was charged.

When the conversation turned to Kaepernick’s ongoing protests, Lahren explained that she just doesn’t believe that the quarterback kneeling during the national anthem is “the right way” for him to take a stand. 

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour »

“When people say that, I’m always fascinated,” Noah said. “What is the right way? So here is a black man in America who says I don’t know how to get a message across. If I march in the streets, people say I’m a thug. If I go out and I protest, people say that it’s a riot. If I bend down on one knee, then it’s not [the right way].

“What is the right way?” Noah continued. “That is something that I’ve always wanted to know. What is the right way for a black person to get attention in America?”

Lahren, however, did not waver from her beliefs. 

“Why would you take out your perceived oppression of black people on our national anthem and our flag?” countered Lahren. “A country that you live in. A country that you benefit from. A country that people of all races have died for, have died to protect, have died for the vote. 

“How do you then go and disrespect the flag and the anthem of that country? Why is that the outlet?” Lahren asked.

“Well, maybe you’re a person who’s lived and read through history and you realize that a lot of those people of ‘every color’ who died for this country, some of them didn’t have the rights that their fellow servicemen had when they came back to the country after fighting for it,” replied Noah.

“Maybe you’re one of those people who realizes that the penal system in America was designed to oppress black people,” he went on. “It was designed to enslave people. It’s a relic of slavery. Maybe you’re one of those people.”

And finally: 

“So what I don’t understand is, a guy is kneeling in the corner. I don’t understand why that offends you so much,” Noah said. “It’s not even like he’s trying to sing over you. He’s not doing anything that affects you. I don’t understand why that gets to you. I genuinely don’t.” 

Watch the segment  below or watch the extended interview here.

tracy.brown@latimes.com

Twitter: @tracycbrown

ALSO

Trevor Noah: 'You can be pro-cop and pro-black'

Lil Wayne doesn't connect with Black Lives Matter: 'I ain't no ... politician'

T.I. says Lil Wayne's comments on Black Lives Matter are 'absolutely unacceptable'

Kanye West 911 call: 'He's definitely going to need to be hospitalized'

No WiFi? Low on data? On a plane? Netflix offers downloads of some shows, movies