CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Stunned as Rep. Lee Reveals White Man Stopped Her And Accused Her Of Stealing At Capitol

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) stunned CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins with a disturbing account of “personal racism”: a White man stopped her in the Capitol and accused her of stealing her Congress member’s pin.

CNN hosted a town hall with ex-Amb. Nikki Haley Thursday night, during which she took another stab at explaining racism. Minutes later, during CNN Town Hall Post Analysis coverage, Collins asked Lee for her thoughts on Haley’s response.

Collins was visibly stunned when Lee talked about her experience at the Capitol, and apologized when she was done:

COLLINS: I do want to get your response to what we heard from Ambassador Nikki Haley tonight when she was asked again this question of whether the U.S. has ever been a racist country. This is what she told Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HALEY: But I refuse to believe that the premise of when they formed our country was based on the fact that it was a racist country to start with. I refuse to believe that. I have to know in my heart and in everybody’s heart that we live in the best country in the world and we are a work in progress and we’ve got a long way to go to fix all of our little kinks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Did you agree or disagree with how she characterized that?

LEE: Well, these are not little kinks, first of all. Racism, institutional racism, is in the DNA of this country. When you look at what has taken place, look at our Native Americans, the genocide of Native Americans.

When you look at what has taken place as it relates to African Americans, 250 years plus of enslaving African Americans, and then you look at the disparities now in our community in terms of health care, unemployment, the wealth gap, housing. You can’t tell me the systemic racism does not exist. It’s not just a little kink.

Secondly you have it personal racism which is hard to address but I’ll give you one little story that shows you why we need to understand that I don’t think she really understands racism. I was walking from the House building on Capitol Hill to the Capitol and that man, a white guy stopped me and told me I could not get into the members’ elevator and you know we have pins and I was going to vote.

And he blocked me from getting into the elevator and told me I was not a member of Congress and it was for members only. I said, Sir, I’m a member of Congress. And I showed him my pin and he said, “Whose pin did you steal?”

Now, this is an example of what personal racism is and how people of color constantly have to deal with this each and every day. But systemic racism is in the policies of this country. And just look at what they’re trying to do in terms of eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion. They’re trying to not allow for an equal and level playing field. And so, it’s a very dangerous position that she has. She’s clueless.

COLLINS: Well, that’s a shame. And I’m sorry that you had to deal with that, Congressman. Thank you for sharing that with us. And thanks for joining me tonight, Congressman Barbara Lee, thank you.

LEE: Thank you.

Watch above via CNN Town Hall Post Analysis coverage.