Black Lives Matter protesters try to disrupt Hillary Clinton event Read more: http://www.politico.c

[OneCrazyDiamond]

Source: Politico

KEENE, N.H. — Five demonstrators with the Black Lives Matter movement who had planned to disrupt Hillary Clinton’s campaign event here were barred from entering after they arrived too late to make it past the Secret Service screening. The group made it into the overflow room and watched the event on live stream, eventually meeting with Clinton after the event behind closed doors.

“We have a huge crowd, and there’s an overflow — people the school are trying to figure out how to accommodate,” Clinton said in a possible reference to the group at the beginning of her forum on substance abuse at Keene Middle School. “I hope we’re able to do that.”

Activists told The New Republic that they had planned to interrupt Clinton’s event and ask her about her drug platform, and campaign staffers inside the room were aware of those intentions due to the magazine’s publication.

Because the former secretary of state and first lady has Secret Service protection, her events are typically sealed once she enters the building — and the group of activists apparently did not make it to the event by that time. They were standing under a tent outside the school doors as the event began, but eventually made it into the building to watch in a side room.



Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/black-lives-matter-protesters-attempt-disrupt-hillary-clinton-2016-event-121269.html

[MADem]

1. Well, this will be disappointing to some people who thought she hired 'em!

If anyone listened to that young woman's interview, they'd know that #BLM has an agenda that is not connected to liberal/progressive electoral politics. They want action--specific, concrete action. Not platitudes, not "Sit down, vote for us, we'll get to you eventually."

But the grassroots activists have said they plan to take on all the Democratic candidates, in an effort to have them more aggressively address institutional racism in housing, education and criminal justice.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/black-lives-matter-protesters-attempt-disrupt-hillary-clinton-2016-event-121269.html#ixzz3iXv7wOAG

[jalan48]

7. You're right.

[JDPriestly]

10. If they are serious about getting action quickly, they need to address the President and the White

House and Justice Department staffs, not presidential candidates.

The presidential candidates can't do anything other than talk for about two years.

It's Obama who can call out the National Guard if need be. If Obama has not been able to do anything to stop the racist police brutality, what president can?

What precisely does BLM want the candidates to do other than address their issues. Sanders is doing that. He certainly did it very effectively in last night's Los Angeles speech. According to DUers, Hillary is the favorite of Black Americans. Yet they wanted to interrupt her speech and prevent her from speaking.

What are Bernie, O'Malley and Sanders supposed to do that Obama isn't already doing?

[appalachiablue]

25. +1. The candidates, whoever they are won't be in power for 2 yrs. as you say.

With the way things are deteriorating and black communities are being affected I also wonder why the WH and DOJ aren't being addressed directly. This is a horrible, degrading facet of US society that is rapidly increasing, not slowing down. What is being done about this at the federal level?

The white, conservative Oathkeepers who showed up and spoke to reporters in Ferguson today looked pretty scary and they were armed, yet authorities did nothing to them from that I saw on MSNBC this afternoon.
Wait 2 years, really? This issue is an emergency, now and has been for years, even before cameras were able to record murders like Mike Brown, Eric Gardner, Freddie Gray, and Trayvon's killing in FL two years ago. Our country has so many serious problems now.

[JDPriestly]

44. It is an emergency, and if this were a priority in the Obama administration, it would not have

come to this.

The Sandra Bland video is shocking! And it's the least shocking of the videos and news stories.

This needs action now.

[zeemike]

26. It's kind of a waste of time.

Once the spin is put on it it stays put...by endless repetition.
Hillary the saint, Bernie the racist white guy.

And pointing out that there is only one way to get action now means nothing...it is more about politics than actually justice for black people.
And the facts that we have had a black AG for the last 6 years when all of this came down and nothing changed is simply ignored.

[pnwmom]

28. "They" want to interrupt her speech? Those women don't represent "Black Americans."

They speak for themselves.

That doesn't mean the issues that concern them aren't important -- they are, and Hillary and all the candidates should address them. But their turning up at a Hillary event has nothing to do with whether Hillary has support in the African American community.

[blackspade]

64. The same goes for Sanders and O'Malley I presume?

[pnwmom]

71. Of course. Try reading my post again. Those women only speak for themselves. n/t

[jalan48]

40. It's a great question. Pressure on existing government officials would seem logical.

[cstanleytech]

16. Trust me, some people will still believe that she did and that they showed up late on purpose

just to try and throw people off the scent.

[MADem]

27. They'll probably be early next time, especially if the meeting didn't go the way they

wanted.

It will be interesting to hear what went on in that meeting...

[JDPriestly]

46. I think the Hillary behind this idea is rather crazy. I'm glad she met with the potential

demonstrators. But she and all candidates need to point out that they can't act on BLM for two years, and that the first priority is protecting the democratic value of allowing candidates to speak. It's OK to demonstrate for a couple of minutes and even stay on stage after addressing the audience. But let the candidates speak. Please.

[Blue_Tires]

63. +1

[MrMickeysMom]

80. Some venues can afford an awful lot of security with the Secret Service...

And, then, there are those who depend on the voters themselves.

It's only money, but look what it can buy!

Yay, money - firewalls! They're the best!

[MADem]

82. The money isn't going away. That's what Citizens United has brought us.

If everybody at a large venue tossed a buck in the pot, that would cover lots of security. Might be a viable model.

Security is a worthwhile and very necessary campaign expenditure. There's always the PAC route, too--Sanders doesn't like them but they can fill gaps in funding, and being high-minded about them isn't noble, it is simply putting oneself at a disadvantage when there are options and everyone else is using them--it's like deliberately un-leveling the playing field.

Generally speaking, though, venues will either provide in house security or subcontract it based on the number of anticipated attendees. It's not optional in most places, even if someone brings their own people to protect the principal and entourage. They still have to pay for the basic package.

Whoever is booking candidates who do not have their own security detail into venues needs to make sure that there's a rider on the contract for specific types of security. The stage/backstage need to be tightly secured, as well as the egress routes for the entourage. They also need to take the time to meet with security and tell them exactly how they want them deployed. If they want more than the usual number based on crowd size, they'll need to pay a bit extra. They also need to brief the security people about how they would prefer that disruptions be handled. Manhandling/cuffing is never a good look--it's preferable to surround and persuade.

Police often do this kind of work to plus-up their paychecks when they are off duty (they usually do a better job of managing issues when they're off duty, oddly enough--the gun and taser aren't generally the first line of defense). In any case, event organizers would do well to pay particular attention to those elements of the contract.

There are a lot of weirdos out there--they carry guns, they go into schools, theaters, universities, day care centers, and they shoot shit up. I don't think good security--people on the ground and people watching the crowd from afar, looking for anomolies--is ever a waste of money, particularly in a venue where there are thousands of people. I don't think in a very large venue that a chunk of ballistic glass in front of the speaker's podium, or a ballistic jacket/shirt is an awful idea either.

This is a sometimes dangerous world in which we live. Can't be too careful. If there's no security coordinator on BS's staff yet, he needs to get one.

[MrScorpio]

2. Gee, I wonder if these BLM folks were aware that they're actually tools of Hillary's campaign nt

[freshwest]

41. The Democratic Party OWES black voters BIG TIME. The party must do better. n/t

[fbc]

68. I agree completely. Nominating Bernie would be doing better.

[freshwest]

76. The ENTIRE Democratic Party still OWES for decades of black support. Period. n/t

[fbc]

85. The democratic party has built up plenty of unpaid debts

[SoapBox]

3. ...we have a huge group.

Numbers...there are none in the article.

Specifics please.

And the campaign knew about the "disruption" already, from The New Republic article...the 5 only got into a side room.

[George II]

6. THAT is your take on this?

[questionseverything]

79. i can not find a number either,found this pic

https://www.google.com/search?q=clintons+keene+nh+event+pictures&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&imgil=McbUpZbeo07R8M%253A%253ByOFhz5_9o_GUIM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fblogs.wsj.com%25252Fwashwire%25252F2015%25252F08%25252F11%25252Fhillary-clinton-focuses-on-drug-abuse-and-mental-illness-at-n-h-event%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=McbUpZbeo07R8M%253A%252CyOFhz5_9o_GUIM%252C_&usg=__wBxFlrxbUaLCT8XLGmWqTwHBMNY%3D&ved=0CDEQyjdqFQoTCI71wtjFoscCFcqLkgodN-QA7Q&ei=s7XKVc7POMqXygS3yIPoDg#imgrc=__NaMG5QqjpgqM%3A&usg=__wBxFlrxbUaLCT8XLGmWqTwHBMNY%3D

[Supersedeas]

89. what more do you need to know

[George II]

4. Wha' ? A candidate for the Democratic nomination met with BLM protesters? Oh the horror!

Too bad another candidate couldn't be bother to do so.

[V0ltairesGh0st]

5. Ignored

eom

[Bjorn Against]

8. Which candidate is that?

I know it is not Bernie Sanders because he has met with Black Lives Matter, he even hired a Black Lives Matter supporter as his press secretary.

[MADem]

39. A "supporter" is not the same as a member. I'm a "supporter."

However, I am neither coordinating nor directing #BLM activities from my little keyboard!

I think the only time he met with anyone with any documented #BLM association is when he met with the young ladies from OutsideAgitators206 at Westlake Plaza. That didn't go too well, but he did appear to take some of that interaction onboard, which was a good thing.

If I am mistaken, do correct me.

[Bjorn Against]

43. There are no members of Black Lives Matter, there are only supporters

There is no formal membership in Black Lives Matter, they are similar to Occupy in that they have no centralized leadership or membership cards.

[MADem]

74. Well, you have a link to substantiate that, I'm sure.

I'll wait.

[FarrenH]

90. You don't seem to understand the burden of proof

"BLM is a formally constituted organization" is a positive claim. Positive claims require evidence. I haven't seen evidence that it's true. It's a hashtag-based movement by all appearances. That's not to diminish it's importance, just say that your demand that people prove it isn't a formally constituted organization under law with registration and official membership and so on is unreasonable on its face, given the absence of widely available information to support that.

[MADem]

91. They have a national committee and chapters. They have hired staff. They have a funding stream.

Not sure how much more "proof" you need, but you're a bit late to the party at any rate.
"By all appearances" might be enough for you, but all it tells me is that you didn't read any of the links.

[FarrenH]

92. A little googling tells me you're correct

Although that seems to be a very recent development (like, last month). Considering the movement has been around since the Zimmerman case, its forgivable to still think they have no formal organization.

[MADem]

95. They've been funded/building since Trayvon Martin was murdered.

You can learn a lot about the organization at their website.

[JDPriestly]

52. Do you have a link supporting your statement?

Bernie's press secretary spoke very clearly for BLM last night at the Los Angeles rally.

The crowd went wild in support of BLM.

It is simply a false meme that Bernie and his supporters, regardless of their color and immigration status, education, profession, etc. do not care about BLM. The crowd really, really cheered long and loud for the cause of BLM and for reform of our justice system. Bernie is very clear about this.

So, if yhu can prove I'm wrong, please do.

I don't think Hillary is behind the meme that Bernie doesn't care about BLM, but I do think her supporters are behind it. And they are wrong. If they listen to Bernie's speech in Los Angeles, they will be set straight.

But one point that Bernie makes is that the unemployment numbers among young people, the real ones, in the Black community are far higher than among other groups of young people. That is unacceptable. It is one of many reason that the police pick on Black youths so much. Only one, but one of the reasons.

I think a lot of Hillary supporters are uncomfortable with recognizing what great harm the Clinton signing of NAFTA and then the bail-out of the banks without conditions requiring them to invest in American jobs, bail out homeowners, paying higher taxes on their gains following the bailout, etc. have really angered and hurt ordinary Americans.

They have no idea.

One thing that surprised me sitting in the back balcony at Bernie's LA speech yesterday was the loud reaction when Bernie said that some people smoke a little marijuana and end up in jail but the bankers who nearly brought down our economy don't. That statement got a large and loud welcome from the crowd, especially in my balcony.

D.C. is just so sheltered from the reality of Main Street America.

Standing in line, the problems of lost jobs and big student debt were top topics discussed by people. The people I met were well informed about what is going on in our society. I spoke to a well-dressed, elegant woman who said she was a social worker. Lots and lots of Hispanics as well as other immigrants (and remember, not all immigrants are people of color).

I do not think Hillary is behind the disruptions of Bernie's events.

But I do know that Bernie has responded by loudly and clearly demonstrating his support for the BLM mission and objectives.

[MADem]

70. Please re-read my post 39 and pay particular attention to the last sentence.

I think you need to provide me with a link, not the other way around.

I'm not talking about Bernie talking about #BLM, I'm talking about him, specifically, meeting with them, himself, and having a colloquy about their concerns.

If you can show me where and when he did that, and I don't mean his conversations with his recently hired (away from Public Citizen) national Press Secretary, I think that's a useful addition to the conversation.

[JDPriestly]

81. Here is one link. I think Bernie also met with them earlier, but I'm not sure.

Sanders met with half a dozen Portland activists Sunday night. They talked about police reform and the environment. Mainly, they talked about why Sanders has failed to connect with a group whose causes he says he shares.

. . . .

After the rally, Sanders' workers again asked Cooper and others from Black Lives Matter to come speak to the candidate. Cooper agreed to meet with Sanders in a private room at the Moda Center if activists from other groups could join them.

Cooper said he and six others met with Sanders, his wife, Jane Sanders, and Symone Sanders, a 25-year-old African-American woman promoted over the weekend to become the candidate's spokeswoman.



. . . .
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/08/bernie_sanders_after_protests.htmlose causes he says he shares.

Symone Sanders spoke first and moderated Bernie's rally last night in Los Angeles. She made a powerful statement of the BLM's issues and spoke of the changes that the country needs to make to insure that BLM.

Bernie earned everyone's respect for the way he has handled this. There never was a real problem. I think there was more a fear within BLM that there was a problem.

Apparently, there is a question as to one of the people who interfered with Bernie's speech at the afternoon event in Portland was a Sarah Palin supporter. I say there is a question because I don't know whether that rumor has been debunked.

I also read on DU that Bernie met with BLM members after the Netroots Nation disruption, but I have no link for that and I don't know for sure that it is true. He promoted Symone Sanders after Netroots Nation.

Frankly, remembering the Holocaust and the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, I think it is kind of silly for BLM to entertain the thought that a 1960s liberal like Bernie who was raised in the Jewish religion could possibly be weak or even lukewarm on race and civil rights in general. That's just an impossibility if you know anything at all about Jewish culture.

[MADem]

83. Thank you--that's very clear.

If you want to know everything you need to know about the woman who led the disruption at Westlake, I would urge you to listen to the TWiB podcast. It's nearly a half hour, but get a pair of headphones and just LISTEN. Really listen. Don't get your back up--just listen, passively, and try to put yourself in her shoes for just a short while.

You probably won't come away agreeing with everything this young woman says, but you will surely understand her POV better. What has been covered in these outraged "HOW DARE SHE?" threads isn't the whole story--a lot is missing. Most particularly, first, everything she said on that stage, and second, her philosophy.

You will learn things about her that you will find surprising, like, for example her PARENTS are teapartiers, she is biracial, she comes from a very religious background, her parents don't understand her activism but they love her anyway, and -- most importantly--she is not "a plant," she is not "owned" by any shady group, she wasn't paid, she could give a rat's ass about electoral politics, and she is entirely sincere. I think you will come away with a bit more insight. I do think what she said had a profound effect on Sanders--his webpage was changed that night, and he rolled out his national Press Secretary, too.

Here, let me dig it up for you:

[silenttigersong]

86. Listened twice

because I wanted to make sure of what I thought she said_concerning who was agressive during the mic takeover.I could be mistaken again however her claim of them being harmfull towards the two women does not jive with the video.While I find Marrissa Johnson to be an intelligent women admirably so,as well as passionate to her activism.I believe that the narritive is distilled,as none knows for sure about "White plants"in the audience who very well could have been conservitives or any number of other dem candidates supporters.This is why I believe this action has discredited BLM.

[Comrade Grumpy]

9. "Black Lives Matter Activists Open Massive Bernie Sanders Rally in Los Angeles"

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/black-lives-matter-activists-open-massive-bernie-sanders-rally-in-los-angeles/

<snip>

Sanders, who has been interrupted several times at previous rallies by Black Lives Matter demonstrators calling on him to address police shootings, invited the group to open his rally in Los Angeles. "There is no president that will fight harder to end institutional racism," he told the crowd.

<snip>

Go away, your highness; you're obnoxious.

[George II]

14. Of course, otherwise it would have been his third strike.

He keeps saying "There is no president that will fight harder to end institutional racism", the obvious implication being "There is no president(ial candidate) that will fight less....."

[appalachiablue]

31. At least Bernie is out there at large public venues and O'Malley is trying.

[George II]

57. Yeah, out there at large public venues with the same ol' stump speech.

[beac]

32. That implication is neither "obvious" nor sensical. n/t

[Dr Hobbitstein]

29. What the headline at that link ACTUALLY says

"Black campaign activist opens massive Bernie Sanders rally in Los Angeles"
BLM did NOT open up that rally, but Bernie's new press secretary did.

[MADem]

34. No, that turned out to be a FALSE REPORT. You shouldn't keep repeating that.

"Activist" Symone Sanders is Senator Sanders newly-hired PRESS SECRETARY, not a BLM activist. She supports their goals but she does not work for them nor is she affiliated with them. She IS affiliated with the Bernie Sanders campaign.

She's on the payroll.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/bernie-sanders-campaign-adds-young-black-woman-as-new-public#.pd975gQgL

Before a crowd of more than 12,000 at the Alaska Airlines Arena on the campus of the University Of Washington, a new public face for the Sanders campaign appeared. Symone Sanders, a volunteer organizer with the D.C.-based Coalition for Juvenile Justice, was announced as the new national press secretary of Sanders’ campaign and was tasked with introducing the 73-year-old senator.

Symone Sanders is a young, black criminal justice advocate and supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. She’s also a progressive political activist right out of the Sanders mold: Her last job was at Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen. In an interview, Symone Sanders said she first connected with the senator about three weeks ago, offering him advice on how to better understand the message of Black Lives Matter activists in an hourlong chat.

[Bjorn Against]

47. Can you name me a single person who does work for Black Lives Matter?

Black Lives Matter is a decentralized movement, as far as I can tell they have no staff or any way to become officially affiliated with them. They have activists fighting for their cause but no official leadership.

[MADem]

56. Yes. I can name three: Patrisse Cullors. Opal Tometi. Alicia Garza.

They are the founders of the movement.

As to your questions, the movement is not entirely decentralized--they have a unified web page, a facebook page (where a lot of angry Sanders supporters are making fools of themselves), a twitter account, and they've been at this for three years, now. You can find the answers to many of your questions HERE: http://blacklivesmatter.com/ and they even have a contact page.

Symone Sanders self-identifies as a SUPPORTER, not an activist for the movement. She had a paying job at Public Citizen.

Her current job is incompatible with being an activist for the organization:

http://blacklivesmatter.com/blacklivesmatter-statement-on-political-affiliations/

#BlackLivesMatter Statement on Political Affiliations
by BlackLivesMatter | Aug 10, 2015 | Press Releases, Uncategorized | 0 comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2015
At this time, #BlackLivesMatter does not endorse any presidential candidate. Moreover, we are not affiliated with a political party. Our work is not funded or driven by any political party nor is it influenced by local or national candidates.
As stated in our mission, #BlackLivesMatter is an ideological and political intervention; we are not controlled by the same political machine we are attempting to hold accountable. In the year leading up to the elections, we are committed to holding all candidates for Office accountable to the needs and dreams of Black people. We embrace a diversity of tactics. We are a decentralized network aiming to build the leadership and power of black people. We do not endorse any political party and we are not supported by any political party. Our political aims we’ve stated clearly.
Historically, all political parties have participated in the systematic disenfranchisement of Black people. Anti-black racism, especially that sanctioned by the state, has resulted in the loss of healthy and thriving Black life and well-being. Given that, we will continue to hold politicians and political parties accountable for their policies and platforms. We will also continue to demand the intentional dismantling of structural racism.
For more information about #BlackLivesMatter nationally, please visit the official website at www.blacklivesmatter.com, follow @BlkLivesMatter on Twitter, or visit the Facebook page here.

They didn't just spring up out of nowhere. It's just that white America hasn't bothered to pay attention to them up to now.

[Bjorn Against]

59. They are the founders, but as far as I know they are not paid

Having a Facebook page and a web site does not make them a centralized organization, Occupy had these things as well but they had no official leadership.

If it is possible to become a member of Black Lives Matter then please provide a link to where I can apply for a membership.

And for your information this white American did not just start paying attention to Black Lives Matter just now, I have marched with them on several occassions. I receive e-mails and text alerts from them regularly, but at no time have I heard of any way to become an official member.

[MADem]

65. I provided you with a contact page--you can ask the question directly. No need for a middleman.

You asked for one name, a "single person," I gave you three. You said they had no organization, I gave you several links to their presence on the web, where they collate articles of interest, issue press releases, manage a fb page, a twitter account and a blog and respond to queries. They also publish original material.

Seriously, who do you think is sending you the emails and text alerts? Santa?

I am getting the strong impression that nothing I tell you would be enough, so rather than endure a repetitive, "Well, but what about..." exercise, perhaps you might want to address all of your questions directly to #BLM at the contact link I provided just upthread. Once you have all your answers, then you can perhaps come back to this thread and share your findings with all of us.

I think that's a better solution than a protracted back-and-forth.

[Bjorn Against]

66. I already receive communications from them

I asked you for people who work for Black Lives Matter as in paid employment. I already knew of the three women who founded Black Lives Matter, but being founders does not mean they are actually employees.

The people who are spending me e-mails are activists, it is not difficult to set up a Facebook page without any sort of paid staff or leadership. I already knew about their Facebook page and web site and never requested you to provide a link to them.

What I did ask you for is a link to where I can find out where to apply for a membership, but because there is no such link you were unable to provide it so you told me to find it on my own. That means you have nothing.

[MADem]

67. I gave you a page where you can write directly to them and get an answer.

As I said, no matter what I tell you, you will not be satisfied.

Do you want satisfaction, or do you just want to keep giving me the "Yes, but?"

You can get the answer to your question, with no more "Yes, buts" by simply using the link I provided. Obviously, you don't WANT an answer that is determinative, that you can't "Yes, but" about, or that you can share with the rest of us.

You WANTED to say "You have nothing." That's the reason you even bothered to ask me for one name (not enough when I gave you three) and proof of organization (I gave you several links). I could give you a roster of hundreds, and you'd still be "Yes, butting."

Go ask the question at the contacts page, and bring the answer back here. If you don't do that, I will have to conclude that YOU have 'nothing,' and you certainly had no real interest in obtaining a response, straight from the source, that was unquestionably accurate and not subject to political bias.

smh.

[Bjorn Against]

69. You are the one who dismissed Bernie's press secretary as a supporter and not a member

If you are going to dismiss someone as being a mere supporter and not a member then you should at least be able to show me that it is possible to become a member.

There is no link to a membership application on their web site and this does not seem like something a membership based organization would hide. I am not going to waste the time of their volunteers asking for something I know doesn't exist.

If you could provide a link to a membership application to prove me wrong then that would satisfy me, but no telling me to find it on my own will not satisfy me.

You dismissed her as being a supporter and not a member, if you think that is cause to dismiss her then it is your burden to show that a membership actually exists.

[MADem]

72. Well, if you want to "prove me wrong," use the contact page I provided

and ask the question.

Every comment I have seen from her, she identifies herself as a "supporter" -- not a "member." Not an "administrator." Not a #BLM activist. Up until a few days ago, she had a full time job in Washington DC.

Your unwillingness to resolve this issue directly, despite being given a direct line to the source speaks volumes. You plainly don't want an answer. I'm not buying your excuses, either.

You can write a sentence or two on a contact form, and I'm quite sure the good people at the other end of the line will give you a response. Rather than do that, you come here and write interminable, berating and waffling paragraphs because I've asked you to take responsibility for getting an answer that you won't "Yes, BUT" when you get it.

I didn't "dismiss" anyone. I took her at her word--you might try that, sometime.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/evanmcsan/bernie-sanders-campaign-adds-young-black-woman-as-new-public#.sxPB12y2D

Before a crowd of more than 12,000 at the Alaska Airlines Arena on the campus of the University Of Washington, a new public face for the Sanders campaign appeared. Symone Sanders, a volunteer organizer with the D.C.-based Coalition for Juvenile Justice, was announced as the new national press secretary of Sanders’ campaign and was tasked with introducing the 73-year-old senator.
Symone Sanders is a young, black criminal justice advocate and supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. She’s also a progressive political activist right out of the Sanders mold: Her last job was at Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen. In an interview, Symone Sanders said she first connected with the senator about three weeks ago, offering him advice on how to better understand the message of Black Lives Matter activists in an hourlong chat.

See? She's a supporter, translating the message of activists to Sanders.

Now either ask your question to the people who can give you a definitive answer, or be revealed as someone who is engaging in a goading/baiting exercise.

I've given you the tools--if you really want an answer, you will go get it.

[Bjorn Against]

73. So you can't provide a link, no need to waste any more time with you.

[MADem]

78. You have the power. You refuse to use it. Thanks for being so blatant. Makes it easy to

dismiss you!

Oh...loook! On the fb page created by those very #BLM founders that I name upthread....

https://www.facebook.com/BlackLivesMatter/posts/369845739853344

A statement from members of the ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ team:






What did that say again? Why, I believe it said

A statement from members of the ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ team:

Hmmmm. MEMBERS. Not simply FOUNDERS, members.

TEAM....a team is a structure, an organized unit.

And upthread, you were whining about how they weren't paid? Why aren't you donating, then?

They've got a viable funding stream: http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/05/politics/funding-civil-rights-movement/

And you are not even subtle.

smh.

[freshwest]

58. Sans the snark, that would have been an excellent post I wanted to applaud. n/t

[JDPriestly]

11. What other candidate could not bother to do so?

Please provide a link supporting that claim.

[sulphurdunn]

17. Behind closed doors,

not at the podium.

[MADem]

42. Link? nt

[jeff47]

48. Can't read the story in the OP?

Reporters were not allowed into the group’s meeting with Clinton, but the activists said they had recorded the exchange and plan to publish it.

[MADem]

51. I misunderstood the post--I thought it was in reference to a BS-#BLM meeting. nt

[Igel]

53. Of course.

It was her event, not theirs. People came to see her, not them.

She may not have been informed about their presence until later. She owed them nothing. They may have gotten less than they hoped; they got more than they deserved.

They met with her. She didn't gift them the event, organizational effort, expenses for the event. She didn't lose control over her event and give them the power to control her message or co-opt her stage, to publicly pressure her or embarrass and humiliate her.

This strikes me as fair. That they lost the power struggle and failed to wrest the stage from her is a licit outcome, and a preferable one. They got a smaller reward than they were expecting, but got a reward, and it was a reward and not just expropriation.


BTW, it's "In vino veritas."

[sulphurdunn]

61. My post was in response to this statement:

"Wha' ? A candidate for the Democratic nomination met with BLM protesters? Oh the horror! Too bad another candidate couldn't be bother to do so."

Sanders, of course, met with them publicly and unavoidably. He lacked or was unwilling to exercise the power to control his stage because the event was designed to be public and democratic in the finest tradition of American whistle stop campaigning. He also lacked armed security to ensure his control or declined to use it if he did. That may indeed be foolhardy, but it is nevertheless brave and admirable in a naive sort of way.

I am certain Sanders was never embarrassed or humiliated by the antics of the BLM grandstanding. His restraint and demeanor at the event speak volumes. I suppose one might consider a private meeting with one of the most heavily guarded and closeted politicians in America a reward. I suppose.

I corrected the typo in my signature line. Thanks for pointing it out. I must have been having too much wine with my truth and high school Latin when I wrote it, but I have always admired the sentiment.

[Iliyah]

24. LOL - you made my day!

[arcane1]

30. Which candidate?

Or are you just making up shit again?

[magical thyme]

50. which candidate would that be? Because Sanders did meet w/BLM representatives and hired

one of their supporters.

What he didn't do was meet with people who forced they way on stage and disrupted two events at which he was not the sponsor, but an invited guest. He left it to his hosts to decide what to do because it was their event. He did attempt to talk to one of the disruptors, btw, who shoved him away when he got too close to her.

[Crowman1979]

12. I won't take this group seriously until they disrupt a Rethuglican candidate's event.

IMO the a-holes attending those events really need to hear the message that #BLM is saying.

[ShrimpPoboy]

13. Understandable

but the GOP isn't interested in addressing this issue and everyone knows it. Their base doesn't care so the candidates dont either. Protesting with them would be pointless.

[cstanleytech]

18. Thats why BLM will fail then because this country has 2 major political parties and not one

and to focus on only one party for something like this wont accomplish much if anything.

[global1]

19. Really? Wouldn't It Make It Perfectly Clear To The American People In General That....

the GOP isn't interested in addressing this issue and make sure that everyone really knows it firsthand.

We all know that any protest would be diffused quickly by the GOP.

I know their base doesn't care and their candidates don't care - but wouldn't it be good to put them on the spot so the American People can see just how much they don't care? That would certainly make a point and let The American People realize that they have a straight choice of which Party cares and which doesn't.

[cstanleytech]

23. Exactly. It probably wont affect their base but any major negative action by the GOP that

weakens them with the moderates and or independents is good imo.

[arcane1]

37. That's why they need to be forced to address it. Otherwise it looks like a game of "Yes, but..."

Protesting the people who agree with you, but not protesting the people who disagree, makes zero sense.

During the Iraq invasion, anti-war people picketed the White House, not Dennis Kucinich's house.

[appalachiablue]

55. +1. Re the WH and Kucinich- really!!

[Archae]

15. The "Open Carry" people there would shoot them.

[cstanleytech]

22. The risk of being shot has not stopped Aung San Suu Kyi

nor did it stop Doctor King, Gandhi, John Lennon or Nelson Mandela.

[virgogal]

38. Old lady here. How on earth can you put

John Lennon in the same category as the others that you mentioned?

Boggles my mind.

[cstanleytech]

54. Then I respectfully suggest you research him. nt

[virgogal]

87. No need to research him. I followed him as everyone my age did.

I still wouldn't put him in the same class as the others.`

[cstanleytech]

88. *shrug* I think he fits very well personally.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

49. Doesn't matter

The GOP is not getting the presidency.

[phleshdef]

20. They'll NEVER get the opportunity to pull that stuff with Hillary Clinton.

She is far too protected for obvious reasons... being a wife of a former President, for one, she has SS protection already.

[Agnosticsherbet]

33. Excellent, I support #Blacklivesmatter in their protests

to bring attention to the problems caused by racism.

It is time that we took on this issue made everyone equal.

[JustAnotherGen]

35. Number23 was right n/t

[freshwest]

60. IDK what she said on what part of that post... HRC should have BLM start on stage and then arrive.

That deals with the Secret Service issues. All of them have SS details, I bet and they have HRC in the background until the crowd is vetted. We don't need to have RWNJs get into the campaigns.

[greatauntoftriplets]

62. Careful!

She might get accused of being in league with George Soros. But she nailed it.

[azurnoir]

36. I'll venture a guess that the second act will be

Hillary announcing a press conference with BLM and lot's and lot's of camera's

[jeff47]

45. LOL. What a big pile.

Yeah, I'm so shocked they "just couldn't get in". Oh well. Whocouldaknown.

[SunSeeker]

75. Yup. There is that little matter of the secret service screening.

Hence Hillary's preference for smaller gatherings.

[onecaliberal]

77. I thought she was meeting with them today.

Which is it?

[IkeRepublican]

84. I got a hunch BLM is a RW creation or RW hijacked

Like any other disinformation campaign to lead interested and concerned individuals astray.

Seriously, showing up at Bernie's and later Hilary's to disrupt? Doesn't add up, folks.

[itcfish]

94. Agree!

Makes this easy for a GOP win.

[itcfish]

93. Sorry, but I don't Don't

Believe they really work for "Black Lives Matter". I think they are paid hacks.