Michael Che Calls SNAP Freeze ‘Really F–ed Up’

Saturday Night Live star Michael Che is speaking out against the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which began Saturday as a result of the now month-long government shutdown.

“This SNAP freeze is really screwed up,” Che wrote in one Instagram post Saturday. “And I keep seeing a lot of racist videos celebrating the fact that (mostly black) families can’t buy groceries. There’s this weird idea that since some people have abused neighborhood social services, NO ONE should get help at all? This country is built on greedy assholes who take shortcuts and game the system to their advantage, but for some reason poor people are judged more severely when they find a way to turn a nickel into a dime, especially blacks.”

He continued, “I [know] the point is to hate each other here so we can fight in the comments and strengthen our commitments, but let’s draw the line at feeding the poor. I grew up on free cheese and powdered milk and waiting for your friends to leave the store so they wouldn’t see me paying with stamps. That shit ain’t as glamorous as it sounds. I promise.”

The government was shut down on October 1 after Republicans and Democrats failed to pass a government funding bill when the previous federal budget expired. In the Senate, Republicans fall 60 votes short of passing the bill, giving Democrats a chance to fight back on key issues.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, sent a memo on Oct. 26 saying benefits would end on Nov. 1. However, two federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have both ruled Friday that the Trump administration is legally required to use emergency funds to pay out at least some of the SNAP benefits. The Trump administration has until Monday to respond to the ruling.