CNN host Ryan Gidursky directs racist attack against Mehdi Hasan

from CNN NewsNight It descended into chaos and acrimony Monday night after Donald Trump surrogate Ryan Girdusky directed a shocking racist and Islamophobic attack on fellow panelist Mehdi Hasan.

During a discussion of Trump's now-infamous Madison Square Garden rally, which saw numerous speakers make blatantly racist comments about blacks, Palestinians, Latinos and particularly Puerto Rico, the debate heated up and Hasan said that as supporter of the Palestinians has been used against those who baselessly accuse him of being anti-Semitic.

Girdusky then responded, “I hope your pager doesn't ring.” The racist joke, which strongly implied that Hasan was a terrorist, referred to the recent wave of indiscriminate pager bombings carried out by Israel in Lebanon that killed at least 42 people, including at least 12 civilians, and injured more than 3,000.

Hasan and the other guests immediately realized Girdusky's racist implication and called him out openly, with Hasan asking Girdusky if he wanted Hasan to die. “Did you just say I should die? Did you just say I should be killed live on CNN?” Hasan asked incredulously.

Host Abby Phillip and guest Ashley Allison quickly called out Girdusky for his racist comment and also shut down his attempts to walk back what he said and apologize. “Ryan is dead broke, you know,” Phillip said as Girdusky tried to bully him. “Don't then say 'I apologize' you literally accused him [of being a terrorist]”

As Girdusky continued to try to explain his comment, Phillip said, “Ryan, stop talking.”

When the NewsNight returned after a hiatus, Girdusky had been removed from the panel and Phillip addressed the racist incident directly on camera. “First I want to apologize to Mehdi Hasan for what was said at this table, it was completely unacceptable. When we start the discussion, you'll see that Ryan is not at the table. There is a line that has been crossed and it is not acceptable to me, it is not acceptable to us in this network.”

Phillip continued: “We want discussion, we want people who don't agree with each other to talk to each other. But when you cross the line into total lack of civility, that's not going to happen here on this show. It's a hot moment, we're in the middle of a political season, we're eight days away from the presidential elections. But we can have a conversation about what is happening in this country without resorting to the lowest discourse.”

In a statement after the segment aired, CNN said: “There is no room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on the air. Our goal is to foster thoughtful conversations and debates, even among people who deeply disagree with each other, in order to explore important issues and promote mutual understanding. But we will not allow guests to be belittled or the line of civility to be crossed. Ryan Girdusky will not be welcomed back into our network.

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