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Bill Maher Says Denying Racism In Charleston Shooting Is Racism

Bill Maher Says Denying Racism In Charleston Shooting Is Racism
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Entertainment Editor, HuffPost

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Despite the fact that racism, as supported by numerous reports, was the clear motivating factor in the Charleston, South Carolina, shooting, many in politics hesitated to use the word, and Bill Maher has had enough of it.

"Isn't denying racism, itself, a form of racism?" said Maher to his panelists on Friday's "Real Time."

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) discussed how removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol would be a step in the right direction for healing, while MSNBC correspondent Joy Reid laid out her frustrations with the media avoiding discussions about racism.

Reid said: "Even when the perpetrator says, 'I'm here to kill black people,' wore the Rhodesia and South Africa -- White South Africa flags -- on his person and announced what his intentions were, which were clearly racist, but we mustn't discuss it."

"Real Time with Bill Maher" airs Friday at 10:00 p.m. ET on HBO.

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Before You Go

Charleston Vigils
(01 of19)
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Olina Ortega, left, and Austin Gibbs light candles at a sidewalk memorial in front of Emanuel AME Church where people were killed by a white gunman Wednesday during a prayer meeting inside the historic black church in Charleston, S.C., Thursday, June 18, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(02 of19)
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Betty Maddox, of Conyers, Ga., sings at the interfaith prayer vigil at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Thursday, June 18, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(03 of19)
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From left, Patricia Hamock, of Decatur, Ga., Cynthia Carmichael, of Decatur, Ga., and Angela Dixon, of Marietta, Ga., sing together at the interfaith prayer vigil at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Thursday, June 18, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(04 of19)
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Mourners gather at Marion Square for a candlelight vigil, Thursday, June 18, 2015, near the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. Dylann Storm Roof, 21, was arrested Thursday in the slayings of several people, including the pastor at a prayer meeting inside the historic black church. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(05 of19)
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People participate in a candle light vigil at Marion Square near the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 18, 2015. (credit:BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)
(06 of19)
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An emotional Senate staffer Travis Norton, right, joins other staff members and members of Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 18, 2015, during a vigil to mourn the shooting victims of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(07 of19)
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Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., and other members of Congress, attends a prayer vigil on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 18, 2015, to mourn the shooting victims of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(08 of19)
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U.S. Sen. Tim Scott bows his head in prayer during a prayer vigil held at Morris Brown AME Church in NYC for the victims of Wednesday's shooting at Emanuel AME Church on Thursday, June 18, 2015 in Charleston, S.C. (credit:Grace Beahm/The Post And Courier via AP)
(09 of19)
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Rev. Jeannie Smalls cries during a prayer vigil held at Morris Brown AME Church in New York City for the victims of Wednesday's shooting at Emanuel AME Church on Thursday, June 18, 2015 in Charleston, S.C. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(10 of19)
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Hands are raised during a prayer vigil held at Morris Brown AME Church in New York City for the victims of Wednesday's shooting at Emanuel AME Church on Thursday, June 18, 2015 in Charleston, S.C. (credit:Grace Beahm/The Post And Courier via AP)
(11 of19)
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The crowd applauds during a prayer vigil held at Morris Brown AME Church in New York City for the victims of Wednesday's shooting at Emanuel AME Church on Thursday, June 18, 2015 in Charleston, S.C. (credit:Grace Beahm/The Post And Courier via AP)
(12 of19)
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Those gathered at the prayer vigil at Morris Brown AME Episcopal Church sing a hymn together in Charleston, South Carolina. (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
(13 of19)
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From left, Reverend Richard Harkness holds hands with Reverend Jack Lewin during a prayer vigil held at Morris Brown AME Church in New York City for the victims of Wednesday's shooting at Emanuel AME Church on Thursday, June 18, 2015 in Charleston, S.C. (credit:Grace Beahm/The Post And Courier via AP)
(14 of19)
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Members of the public filled the Morris Brown AME Church to capacity in downtown Charleston Thursday afternoon for a prayer vigil. (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
(15 of19)
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Mourners hold a prayer vigil for the nine victims of last night's shooting at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina June 18, 2015 at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church: Bethel in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. (credit:Eric Thayer via Getty Images)
(16 of19)
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Mourners hold a prayer vigil for the nine victims of last night's shooting at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina June 18, 2015 at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church: Bethel in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. (credit:Eric Thayer via Getty Images)
(17 of19)
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Mourners hold a prayer vigil for the nine victims of last night's shooting at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina June 18, 2015 at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church: Bethel in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. (credit:Eric Thayer via Getty Images)
(18 of19)
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Clergy leaders and other mourners march during a prayer vigil for the nine victims of last night's shooting at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina June 18, 2015 in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. (credit:Eric Thayer via Getty Images)
(19 of19)
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Mourners gather in Union Square Park June 18, 2015 in New York in to remember those killed at a prayer meeting in Charleston, South Carolina. (credit:DON EMMERT via Getty Images)
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