"Currently I would say that Bernie Sanders is the best hope for the black community in the nation."

[Admiral Loinpresser]

Martese Johnson is a hero who stood up to police brutality and got no justice:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/agents-bloody-arrest-uva-student-martese-johnson-cleared-wrongdoing-n407196

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1508/11/cnr.05.html

BALDWIN: You talk about changing the nation. I mean, that's a - that an overarching notion, right? I mean, to be specific, here we are getting geared up for this campaign season and what's been interesting to watch is the political sphere is these candidates. I mean one of the questions they are now being asked is about the Black Lives Matter movement, about police brutality, especially, I think, of, you know, of Bernie Sanders, who participated in the civil rights movement decades ago. A couple of folks from the Black Lives Matter movement, you know, took over his podium over the weekend. At the same time, you know, his new national secretary is a black criminal justice advocate, strong supporter of that movement. I'm wondering just that as context, Martese, what is the one question you think that should be asked of these candidates?

…JOHNSON: Yes. I think that they need to implement and alter policy that will prevent, one, officers from being able to treat people in the way that they do and 99 percent of them don't get found guilty of any wrongdoing. I mean they also need to implement more intense training. So, for instance, they - that the ABC in Virginia, which is - I had just finished going through a two week training on diversity and, you know, prevention of these kinds of violent instances, but that's only two weeks and that won't change a lifetime of implicit bias. I mean so I think that there needs to be more policy implemented towards diminishing implicit bias and also promoting the safety of minorities throughout the nation. I think that many of the candidates have taken steps towards that in implementing their new policy - their new platforms on criminal justice, but I think there needs to be a lot more work.

And currently I would say that Bernie Sanders is the best hope for the black community in the nation. And that's based on -

BALDWIN: So he's - he's your pick so far?

JOHNSON: Yes. Just - and I don't officially endorse anyone at the moment, but based on the way things are going right now, what's been put out, I think that Bernie Sanders is definitely the candidate for the black community at the moment.

[99th_Monkey]

1. K&R nt

[GoneFishin]

2. K & R

[Cleita]

3. K&R

[bvf]

4. K&R! n/t

[PatrickforO]

5. K&R!

He IS the best candidate for all of us.

[zentrum]

6. K&R!

[navarth]

7. I fervently hope that some of the DU family

that I see expressing anger with Bernie and his supporters will consider this.

We need to come together. Who benefits from us fighting? Not us.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

10. +1 n/t

[Phlem]

8. K&R!

[delrem]

9. I heard, on DU by prominent members of the AA group, that such people are outliers.

Not representative, according to statistics.
aka "Bernie has a race problem, according as statistics".
snicker snicker. Those outlier people don't speak for ....

What I haven't heard has been very much actual debate *on issues*.

It's all been "Bernie only talks about economic justice, and economic justice is irrelevant."; and "Bernie didn't act correctly when confronted by #blacklivesmatters activistists at NRN and Seattle, and according to that he and his supporters are white progressive/liberal supremacists; and so on. Not a debate.

It's EXACTLY as it would be if the intent was to drive "the left" as represented by "white" liberals and progressives from the party, as Hillary Clinton desires the party to be. Which is strange, because I don't see how that can possibly help, with respect to racial, lgbt, or any other "social issues".

[eridani]

11. Didn't you know? Only candidates who do unscripted interactions with the public--

--are to be held accountable for their racial justice policies.

[delrem]

12. Or, just maybe, slandered in a swift-boating operation.

[noiretextatique]

14. it is the return of a kind of obdurant black nationalism

That was demonstrated by the Seattle disruptors. It is fueled by a rage that is justifiable, but offers little in form of a practical solution except rhetoric. I remember when I was like that. I keep asking the people who are still focued on Seattle: which candidate listened, and acted? They prefer to rage about the racism of Sanders supporters instead. Perhaps that is an important issue as well, but I think working to elect the person who will help you acheive your goals might be more important.

[navarth]

20. THIS

couldn't agree more.

Although the claims of racism of Sanders supporters are just fucking ridiculous IMO.

[MisterP]

16. presumably they don't consider them "real POC"

[noiretextatique]

13. I agree nt

[totodeinhere]

15. I agree, and I really don't understand why some African Americans seem to be openly

hostile to Bernie. And I emphasize the word "some" because it is by no means all, not even a majority.

I saw one poster object to Bernie because he is from a "lilly white" state. So are we really going to start criticizing a candidate because of the state he lives in? That's really grasping at straws IMO.

I can understand why many people support Hillary Clinton for the nomination, and that's fine. However I'm not talking about merely supporting Hillary over Bernie. It's actual hostility toward Bernie that gets me.

Bernie doesn't have a racist bone in his body and if elected he will work tirelessly to undo racial injustice. I firmly believe that. The African American community could have no better friend in the White House than Bernie Sanders.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

17. My take.

Here's what I feel I am learning from lurking in the AA group: a lot of black Americans feel frustration that white people are talking past them and not listening. My approach is to work on listening better and trying to love each person I encounter. I fall short of that a lot but I hope I'm getting better.

Because America's history of horrific racism and no attempt at reparations or any type of formal reconciliation, the problems are still much worse than they should be. White terrorism and police brutality have left all people of good will raw. But I also believe that as Bernie continues to develop a concrete program for police brutality and black Bernie supporters build momentum and support, the campaign will achieve the necessary numbers in this vital demographic. We have to renew the spirit of the Rainbow Coalition for the movement to succeed. I believe we are headed in that direction.

[noiretextatique]

18. my take: some black people support Clinton

just as passionately as some people support Sanders. i was reading an article written by a young black woman, and she said in an irrational moment, she said she would not support Sanders because of some of his supporters. i've seen some of that here as well. on the other hand, i've heard similar sentiments expressed by white Sanders' supporters: they will not support BLM because of the Seattle 2. the writer acknowledged that both positions were irrational, fueled my anger and misunderstanding. and justifiably so. i think everyone needs to listen to each other. i think concerns about not being heard and respected coming from african-americans are valid. i also think one can take issue with actions and agenda of the Seattle 2 without being hostile to BLM or black people. i also believe threats to withdraw support for BLM because of the actions of two people is a pattern that needs to be examined and challenged. i remember when people were saying they would not support civil rights because of the OJ verdict! i am Black, and i support Sanders. i have been a Green for many years now because i felt the Democratic party failed, no reneged, on its commitment to racial/economic justice.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

19. +1 n/t