The Real Reason Bernie Sanders Skipped the Edmund Pettus Bridge Commemoration?

[MineralMan]

John Lewis was front and center at that event. Diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, Lewis showed up to meet an adoring crowd and almost all Democratic Presidential Nominees. Almost all. Bernie Sanders wasn't there. He went to Los Angeles to rally a different sort of crowd.

That was the second time Bernie Sanders and his supporters publicly dissed John Lewis. The first time was in 2016, at the Democratic Nominating Convention. John Lewis spoke in support of the nomination of Hillary Clinton as the party's nominee for President. Sanders delegates and supporters loudly BOOED John Lewis for having the audacity to do that. Bernie did nothing to stop that disgusting display of disrespect toward the renowned civil rights leader.

So, he has twice shown such disrespect to a man who is a true giant of civil rights. Once could be forgiven, perhaps, with a strong apology. Twice? That's intentional. There is no other way to see it.

I'm sorry, but Bernie Sanders is not a champion of civil rights, from the perspective of African-American voters. Not on your life.

[aikoaiko]

1. Your satire is on point, MM.

[MineralMan]

4. My post is in no way a satire.

It is simply the truth.

[NurseJackie]

10. What has he done for civil rights in the years since college?

The extent of Bernie’s involvement in The Civil Rights Movement lasted about one year. By 1964, when college students were putting their lives on the line for Freedom Summer, Bernie retreated to VT where he sat out the ‘60s & ‘70s writing essays & doing carpentry.

So my question is this: What has he done for civil rights in the years since then? Anything specific that we should know about? Any legislative accomplishments with regard to civil rights?

[kcr]

11. Satire

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satire

[Cha]

12. It's the absolute truth. and you should know that.

[George II]

2. There was this time, too ,although Gray may not have been working for him at the time, but...

...apparently she passed the audition/interview. And she did it a year after Lewis' tweet:

[MineralMan]

3. Ugh! I remember that, now.

Briahna Gray is not an asset in the Sanders campaign. Not in the least.

[dalton99a]

5. Vile.

[Jarqui]

6. John Lewis dissed Bernie's civil rights efforts

I thought John was unfair about that.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/13/john-lewis-congressional-black-caucus-bernie-sanders-civil-rights-movement
John eventually backed off some.
That may have something to do with it.

[MineralMan]

7. Well, there is offering support for civil rights sometimes, and

doing it consistently and persistently.

I don't fault John Lewis for noticing that Sanders is only sometimes out in front on civil rights issues that have to do with race. Sanders believes that economic justice will fix racism. Clearly, that is not the case.

Sanders has some old photos from the 60s where he participated in a few civil rights protests. It's good that he did that at that time. He doesn't have as much to show his involvement since those days, though. Others have more. In 2020, Bernie is not really demonstrating his dedication to racial justice or social justice as strongly as many hope he would.

It shows in his poor support from the AA community. That's not a good thing for a Democratic presidential candidate.

[Jarqui]

8. Blacks are fundamentally integral to this party

If they do not support the prospective leader, it's very difficult for that prospective leader to win the nomination as Bernie saw in 2016 and we're seeing again in 2020.

I would also wonder about their moral right to be that leader without such support even if they somehow won the nomination. Blacks are so much of a part of who we are as a party and what we stand for.

I think Bernie deserves lots of credit for the position he took in the 60s to fight for civil rights. To question or belittle that was wrong. He truly fought on the front lines.

I'm not clear on what happened since. I do not know how much had to do with living in Vermont as there are fewer blacks there but the blacks who are there seem to have taken exception to Bernie not looking out for their interests as well as he should have. I do not know if that disgruntlement is more politically motivated or not. I do not know enough about it to pass judgement.

I think many would agree that economic injustice is a critical component that must be addressed for minorities to thrive with equality. Bernie advocates for that as do most if not all who competed for the nomination. He's also advocated for criminal justice.

His lack of support from blacks may come down to the Clintons or Joe Biden were simply more trusted and/or deserving. I'm not sure. I do not feel I know enough about the relationship to take a firm position. At times, it has confounded me because Bernie is not a racist.

Bottom line is that he has failed to sell himself to blacks to get their support. Like 2016, it will be a key factor on why he is destined to fall short.

[flotsam]

9. "Sanders believes that economic justice will fix racism. Clearly, that is not the case.

Fair enough, you've made your declaration-So now point me to where on the timeline that shows that true economic justice Was A. Ever achieved and B. Failed.