In the interview, which was published the same day as the anti-gun March for our Lives protests swept the US, Render said he discouraged his own children from protesting against gun violence.

Render said “I told my kids on the school walkout – ‘I love you. If you walk out that school, walk out my house.’” He continued, “we are not a family that jumps on every single thing an ally of ours does, because some stuff we just don’t agree with.”

Following substantial backlash on social media, Render backtracked and apologised for his comments in two videos posted on his social media, describing his interview as “misused” by the NRA.

Respectfully, Mike, NRA TV is not the equivalent of MSNBC, or CNN, or CBS, etc. It's not a news network. It's a video outlet for the NRA, designed to push their propaganda, and it's propaganda that is demonstrably hostile to people who look like you and me.

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) 26 March 2018

Brother,

I have to respond publicly because your NRA video was public.

1. They aren’t simply a news platform.

2. They’ve abandoned us many times over.

3. They’ve targeted & threatened & cruelly insulted us many times over. @KillerMike - I love you. You played yourself.

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) 25 March 2018

Render criticised the timing of the release of the video, insinuating that the release on the same day of March for our Lives implied that he did not support the student led anti-gun movement.

In an apology posted on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, Render said “I did an interview about black gun ownership in this era [...] That interview was used a week later by NRA TV to disparage a very noble campaign that I actually support.”

I hope this clears some stuff up. Love and Respect to all. Part 1 pic.twitter.com/pq977HEG7A

— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) 25 March 2018

He continued, “I want to say first I’m sorry guys. I do support the March – and I support black people owning guns. It’s possible to do both.”

P2 pic.twitter.com/FigGacJeYM

— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) 25 March 2018

Self-described activist Render continued, addressing the young protesters directly, "as your ally, and I am your ally, I want to say many of the people I organise with were at that March […] I am a friend and advocate to you all”

“The interview with the organisation that we don’t all agree with, was supposed to be something to further the conversation…the interview was not made in contrast to your March – it was recorded a week before your March. It shouldn’t have been used that way, I think it’s wrong.”

Render urged the youth to “keep organising. Plot, plan, strategise, organise and mobilise.”

The March for our Lives was a student-led demonstration in support of stricter gun regulation in the US. The movement, known as #neveragain, arose following the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High school in Parkland, Florida on Valentine’s Day. The event, which left 17 students and teachers dead, has been a catalyst for a movement to tighten gun control laws nationwide.