Steve King: Ferguson Protesters Are Of A 'Continental Origin' So Racial Profiling Is Not A Factor

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) claimed that racial profiling is not a concern in Ferguson, Missouri, because all of the protesters are of a "continental origin."

Speaking on conservative network Newsmax TV on Wednesday , King disagreed that racial profiling played a role in the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown or the targeting of those protesting his death because, King claims, everyone protesting the situation is black.

"This idea of no racial profiling ... I've seen the video. It looks to me like you don't need to bother with that particular factor because they all appear to be of a single origin, I should say, a continental origin might be the way to phrase that," he said.

King was responding to the Congressional Black Caucus' demand for the Department of Justice to conduct an extensive investigation into questionable actions of the St. Louis County Police Department in response to the largely peaceful protests in Ferguson. The CBC expressed concern that the police may have a history of racial profiling.

On Monday, Attorney General Eric Holder said the situation deserves a full review and announced that the FBI plans to investigate possible civil rights violations.

King, however, accused the CBC of using race to politicize the situation.

"I just reject race-based politics, identity politics," he said. "I think we're all God's children. We all should be held to the same standards and the same level of behavior."

The situation in Ferguson has reignited debate over rampant racial profiling by law enforcement . The Los Angeles Times noted that in Ferguson, blacks are "twice as likely to be stopped by police as whites," according to a review by Missouri's attorney general.

On Thursday, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) is expected to announce that the St. Louis County Police Department will no longer be involved in the situation.

Listen to King's remarks above at the 1:51 minute mark.

h/t: Right Wing Watch