MSNBC's Al Sharpton demands DOJ takeover of police nationwide

In a video posted Thursday by the Baltimore Sun, MSNBC host and longtime liberal activist Al Sharpton demanded that police departments across the country be taken over by the Department of Justice. He also said it would be necessary to fight states' rights to do so.

"We need the Justice Department to step in and take over policing in this country," he said. "In the 20th century, they had to fight states’ rights in — to get the right to vote. We’re going to have to fight states’ rights in terms of closing down police cases.”

"Police must be held accountable," he added. "I don’t think all police are bad. I don’t even think most are bad. But those that are need to be held accountable.”

"What? Like Homeland Security, NWO type takeover?" one person asked on Twitter in response to the Baltimore Sun tweet promoting the video. "What happened to all politics are local? Due process?"

"Oh goody. Further erosion of Constitution," another person said. "Fed policing = exactly what our forefathers were AGAINST."

Several wondered why the Justice Department hasn't arrested Sharpton for back taxes he owes. One person suggested Sharpton is protected by the administration and will never have to pay his back taxes.

"Out of respect, we could have them wear uniforms that honor people of color," one Twitter user suggested. "How about brown shirts?"

Another person wondered if Sharpton was delivering a message from the White House. "Would this be 'police state' -- like communism? Hmmm."

Twitchy said the statement came on the heels of a meeting between Sharpton and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. After that meeting, she made remarks in front of a National Action Network backdrop complete with the slogan, "No Justice, No Peace."

"Is this an appropriate backdrop for a mayor who wants to heal a divided community?" the Twitchy staff asked. At least one person wondered why she wasn't speaking on a city-provided stage, using the hashtag "#Impeach."

Twitchy also said Sharpton shoved Fox News reporter Leland Vittert away from Rawlings-Blake. "Sharpton," Twitchy said, "isn’t exactly encouraging transparency here."

"What is an MSNBC host doing trying to stop ANY reporter from talking to a politician?" one person asked. "Does MSNBC approve of its hosts blocking press access?"