Desi Banks, a popular social media comedian with 4.8 million followers on Instagram is facing backlash after he made a post critical of the George Floyd protests. On Saturday morning, he posted a meme that showed Martin Luther King marching with the caption “this is a protest”, contrasted with an image of looters with the caption “This is a crime.”
— Desi Banks (@iamdesibanks) May 30, 2020
People on Twitter were quick to respond.
The black community when desi banks tries to post a hood video after today pic.twitter.com/m0b996xNDe
— john (@iam_johnw) May 30, 2020
Spice Adams and Druski moving to the front of the line now that Desi Banks canceled pic.twitter.com/E2X6chGrqm
— King Daddy Zeeti (@DJZeeti) May 30, 2020
Throughout the nationwide protests, many have pointed out that change for marginalized groups has often come with rioting- from Stonewall to Rodney King. Many others, including Banks, believe that change can only be achieved through peaceful protest.
Banks makes videos that poked fun at aspects of Black American culture.