MLK associate tells Memphis Baptist group he’s backing Bernie Sanders

[w4rma]

Source: The Commercial Appeal

Knoxville minister Rev. Harold Middlebrook, a Memphis native and former lieutenant of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., told the gathering of more than 50 black preachers at Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in South Memphis that Sanders represented everything he had struggled for over the last 50 years, detailing the Vermont senator's plans to offer free college, reform the criminal justice system, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and provide universal health care for all Americans.

"We've got to be concerned not just about popularity and names, but we've got to look at the issues and see who is going to really speak on our behalf," Middlebrook said. "And if we make a solid impression in Memphis, if Memphis wants to, Memphis can carry any election in this state."

Middlebrook, a Booker T. Washington High School graduate, is the retired pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in Knoxville and has spent his life involved in the fight for civil rights.

Locally, he helped organize marches and the Black Monday school boycotts in the 1960s. He was at the Lorraine Motel when King was killed in 1968.

Read more: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/government/mlk-associate-tells-memphis-baptist-group-hes-backing-sanders-2c73e08d-8bd8-321c-e053-0100007f70ec-369892701.html

[shawn703]

1. That's a good endorsement

[Tommymac]

2. Awesome endorsement.

We Shall Overcome.

[hobbit709]

3. Bet we'll hear silence from some of the more vociferous Bernie bashers.

[noretreatnosurrender]

4. Still Courageous

"We've got to be concerned not just about popularity and names, but we've got to look at the issues and see who is going to really speak on our behalf," Middlebrook said.

Thank you Rev. Middlebrook.

[Lazy Daisy]

5. Thank you Rev Middlebrook

Thank you for your support and your public endorsement. Most of all thank you for your hard work all these years.


No man is free until we are all free-MLK

[JackRiddler]

6. Just coming here to post this - beat me to it - thanks!

Locally, he helped organize marches and the Black Monday school boycotts in the 1960s. He was at the Lorraine Motel when King was killed in 1968.

Jeezus!

[AzDar]

7. Well done.

[bluestateguy]

8. And I will respect the choice of this great elder of the civil rights movement

I respect the work he has done for the cause.

[klook]

9. A lifetime of activism.

Rev. Middlebrook is the real deal. This is a very gratifying endorsement for Bernie.

Oh, but yeah, "He marched with Martin" doesn't carry much weight with some folks around here.

[ananda]

10. Good!

He knows what civil rights is really all about!

[PatrynXX]

11. okay I admit it thats jawdropping endorsement

O_O

[TIME TO PANIC]

12. K & R!

[Judi Lynn]

13. Wonderful news. Thanks, w4rma. n/t

[democrank]

14. Most excellent

Thank you, Rev. Middlebrook.

[KeepItReal]

15. Yes. Issues. Not popularity, nor patronage.

[iamthebandfanman]

16. the MSN

will MAYBE give this one 1 minute segment one day .... if we are lucky..

that's why its up to ALL OF US to get the word out...

we have got to get people to come out and vote like they did in 2008 and for the same ideological reasons...