“There’s no way you can’t draw a racial reference here! What does a chimpanzee have to do with the stimuli bill and the President?” -Al Sharpton (CNN)

The Reverend Al Sharpton gives MSNBC his response to this cartoon from the New York Post.
The cartoon depicts two police officers standing over a dead chimpanzee, saying, “They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”

Hello, I’m Charlotte Bellis, and you’re watching Newsy.com.

The cartoon is sparking global criticism for being racist and offensive to U.S. President Barack Obama, the country’s first African American president.

We’re bringing you perspectives from MSNBC, The New York Post, CNN, Black Star News, and more.

Here’s MSNBC, who brings us New York Congressman Gregory Meeks’ reaction:

“Historically here in America they have always tried to equate chimpanzees with African Americans. I think it’s absolutely offensive and I think the editors of the New York Post and the cartoon artist have a lot of explaining to do.” -Congressman Gregory Meeks (MSNBC)

And explain they did. Black Star News brings us the New York Post cartoonist’s defense:

"Do you really think I'm saying Obama should be shot? I didn't see that in the cartoon. The chimpanzee was a major story in the Post. Every paper in New York… covered the chimpanzee story. It's just ridiculous. It's about the economic stimulus bill.” -Cartoonist Sean Delonas (Black Star News)

The UK’s Times Online reports protestors gathered outside the New York Post’s Manhattan office shouting, “Shut the Post down.”

A Kansas City Star editorial weighs in, thinking the cartoon ISN’T racist, but it’s not funny, either:

“It appears instead to be a cartoon that tries to make fun of Congress' much-maligned stimulus bill -- and falls completely flat…[I]n the end I don't believe a cartoonist and his editors would be so ignorant as to represent Obama with a chimp, given its obvious racist connotations.” (Kansas City Star)

CNN correspondent Ron Christie brings a different perspective… urging Americans not to inject race into the issue. He gives CNN’s Anderson Cooper this parallel:

“When you had Senator Clinton speaking on Martin Luther King’s birthday, she said the House was run like a plantation--you know what I’m talking about. Al Sharpton was right behind her, and you didn’t hear the human cry from all the Democrats, but all of the sudden this is a racist attack against the President. It’s ridiculous.” -Ron Christie (CNN)

Do you think the New York Post cartoon is racist? Please share your thoughts with us and don’t forget to visit our sources.

I’m Charlotte Bellis, for Newsy.com, where multiple perspectives help provide the real story.