Trump claimed he didn't know about the racist origins of his 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts' remarks in light of the escalating violence amid the George Floyd protests

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President Donald Trump claimed he didn't know about the racist meaning when he quoted, "when the looting starts, the shooting starts," in light of instances of escalating violence and looting amid the George Floyd protests.

The quote came from former Miami police chief Walter Headley in 1967, whose legacy of harsh policing in black neighborhoods incited three days of riots in 1968.

"I've heard it for a long time as most people have," Trump said in response to a reporter's question at the White House. "And frankly, it means when there's looting people get shot. And they die. And you look at what happened last night and the night before, you see that. It's very common."

Though some protests have remained peaceful, there have been instances of fires, shootings, and stores being looted at some protests.

In Louisville, Kentucky, seven people were shot and injured at the protests honoring Breona Taylor, who was killed in her home after police officers entered her home on a "no-knock warrant."

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President Donald Trump said at an event at the White House on Friday that he was unaware of the racist origins of his remarks made in light of instances of escalating violence and looting amid the George Floyd protests.

Late Thursday, Trump tweeted condemning the incidents of violence that were emerging during the protests, writing these "THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd."See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: Why thoroughbred horse semen is the world's most expensive liquidSee Also:Trump has one of his most authoritarian weeks yet as president as the US surpassed 100,000 coronavirus deathsMelania Trump says there is 'no reason for violence' in Minneapolis protests hours after Trump threatened that 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts'Trump's tweet that got tagged for 'glorifying violence' used a phrase from a 1960s cop whose policies started a race riot

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