Making something about race is an instant way to get a loud, vocal minority to champion your cause which is why activists do it. The news runs with it because

Making something about race is an instant way to get a loud, vocal minority to champion your cause which is why activists do it. The news runs with it because anyone with half a brain know that most of this stuff has little to do with race other than as a rough proxy for wealth so they get rage clicks from all those people in addition to the aforementioned loud vocal minority. I think it's stupid but if "it will screw black people more" is how we justify not screwing poor people that doesn't seem all that bad. That said, I'm aware that any justification (e.g. "think of the children", "national security", etc ) that side-steps the requirement for something to stand on its own merits is very dangerous.