Attorney for Freddie Gray family stuns Fox News' Greta Van Susteren: "The whole network’s approach to the black community is racist"

Needless to say, Bill Murphy was rushed off Fox News shortly thereafter

By Sophia Tesfaye

Senior Politics Editor

Published May 24, 2016 3:10PM (EDT)

 (Fox News)
(Fox News)

When it was announced that the first actual verdict in the trial of the six Baltimore police officers charged with the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray was to come down on Monday, Fox News descended upon the embattled city with helicopters and roving reporters in anticipation of angry mobs upset with any verdict less than a finding of guilt.

“Judge Williams made the correct call,” the attorney representing Gray's family, told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren after Officer Edward Nero was found not guilty in connection with Gray’s death.

"The family responded the same way they have always responded, including to the hung jury, and in the lead up to the trial," lawyer Billy Murphy reminded Van Susteren. "And that is, 'lets let the process work, if it is going to work fairly, and lets stand by the result of a fair process without making any prejudgement about who did what to whom, when and how,'" Murphy explained.

"They are calm about it, they are not emotionally overwrought about the decision," Murphy assured Van Susteren, tamping down the rush to portray victims of police brutality as unwillingly to accept the criminal justice systems' findings.

"[Y]our station was ripe with speculation about whether Judge Williams was playing to the audience,” lawyer Billy Murphy said to Van Susteren, calling out Fox News' coverage.

“I don’t know where you get that, Billy,” Van Susteren interjected. “Billy, stop that. I don’t know where you get that.”

“Oh, c’mon, Greta,” Murphy replied incredulously. “C’mon!”

“Let’s talk about my show," a clearly dumbstruck Van Susteren countered. "If you have a gripe with me, tell me. If you have a gripe with my show, tell me.”

But Murphy did not fall for Van Susteren's attempt to deflect.

“So if I think the whole network’s approach to the black community is racist and that’s a relevant thing to say during this program, I can’t say it?” he asked.

“We were in court every single day,” Van Susteren cried. “Look, I know you very well. I know the way you’re trying to play this; I got the picture. I wasn’t born yesterday. I got that. But if you have a problem with my show, tell me.”

“I haven’t stated a problem with your show, if you listen carefully to me,” Murphy shot back, before Van Susteren hurried him off the air.

Watch Murphy stun Van Susteren, via Mediaite:


By Sophia Tesfaye

Sophia Tesfaye is Salon's senior editor for news and politics, and resides in Washington, D.C. You can find her on Twitter at @SophiaTesfaye.

MORE FROM Sophia Tesfaye


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Fox News Freddie Gray Greta Van Susteren On The Record With Greta Van Susteren Racism Racist Media Video