Bernie Sanders speaks on police brutality & mass incarceration BlackLivesMatter

[BrotherIvan]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/14/1393108/-Bernie-Sanders-speaks-out-forcefully-against-mass-incarceration-and-abusive-policing-in-America

Yesterday, Bernie spoke about issues of mass incarceration and police brutality in Des Moines, Iowa. He highlighted the grotesque statistic that America incarcerates more citizens than China, as well as called for the demilitarization of local police forces and for law-breaking cops to be held accountable. He was also explicit in declaring that lethal force should only be used in extreme cases.

From Ferguson to Baltimore and across this nation, too many African-Americans and other minorities find themselves subjected to a system that treats citizens who have not committed crimes as if they were criminals and that is unacceptable.

It is worth listening to all of this in context, though, in order to understand Bernie's thinking on justice and policing issues -- and their impact on the black community -- more holistically (discussion starts about 1:07:08).

By addressing links between class and race throughout his time in the Senate, Bernie has always spoken the language of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, but yesterday he was also explicit in declaring that policing in America must change -- and law-breaking cops be held accountable for their actions.

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[Cali_Democrat]

1. This is great

All politicians need to speak out against institutionalized racism and mass incarceration.

We have no right to lecture other countries when it comes to human rights.

[BrotherIvan]

2. And we need policy with solutions to deal with it NOW

[Dustlawyer]

7. Lot easier to solve if the will was there. Create Special Prosecutor office to investigate and

prosecute police officers for all abuse. No conflict of interest like what exists in the normal situation with local DA and prosecuting (not) local cops.

[BrotherIvan]

11. Exactly

How does it become legislation that police crimes are considered a federal offense and therefore given the overview by a special prosecutor? How do we delink Internal Affairs from the police themselves? The whole system is corrupt and that is the first thing that needs cleaning up, STAT.

[WillyT]

3. Huge K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

:fistbump;

[BrotherIvan]

4. Comin at ya

[Enthusiast]

5. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

[BeanMusical]

6. Kick and R

[BrotherIvan]

8. *Crickets* from those who thought Sanders "didn't care"

about PoC "being shot by police" and it was the most important issue of all! Could it be that it was all just a agenda? Hmmm...

[Jefferson23]

10. His record has always been abundantly clear...so that was frustrating to listen to. n/t

[BrotherIvan]

12. The meme obviously flows from the campaign

As I have seen the same "concern" on other boards. They didn't fall for it like DU though.

[Jefferson23]

13. I am sure you read about Gutierrez..I phoned his DC office when I learned about it.

2008 echos.

[BrotherIvan]

14. Yes, this seems to be the first plan of attack

Notice how no one commented on the lack of PoC on stage with Clinton. Why? Because she was all by herself. So once this one fizzles, there will be more Israel and then a full blown red scare. The lower her numbers go, the more vicious it will get.

[Jefferson23]

15. Yea, that concerns me too, but I imagine Sanders anticipated some of it..maybe just not this soon.

[BrotherIvan]

16. I think he's going to have to be flexible in approach

It looks like he is. I hope he's ready for the shit the party is going to pull because that is the stab in the back. I hope people are watching and demand fairness.

[Jefferson23]

17. Honestly, he is going to get hit from the status quo from both sides and corporate media.

Essentially, Bernie is going after all of them.

I think he is prepared and has been working toward this run a long time..he has nothing to
lose and that is another reason they're watching his crowds closely.

So far so good, I think.

[gollygee]

21. I don't know if anyone ever thought he didn't care

I personally wanted to hear him talk about this issue, and I think a lot of other people did too, and I'm glad he did!

[BrotherIvan]

22. You know, Vermont, white people, *wink wink*

And yeah, those threads were Vicious with a capital V. Not enough, Bernie?

[KingCharlemagne]

42. Don't forget "50 years ago with MLK, Jr. but nothing since, blah-blah-blah" - nt

[Jefferson23]

9. Thank you for posting this..much appreciated. n/t

[LWolf]

18. I'm looking forward to viewing this. nt

[jwirr]

19. I have expected nothing less than this. This wonderful man is of Jewish descent and knows about

discrimination and police states from his own cultural experience. How anyone could think different is beyond me.

[bettyellen]

20. Good stuff- thanks!

[BrotherIvan]

23. Oh hi, bettyellen!

[LWolf]

24. About 30 minutes in,

he's got me in tears talking about family values. I'm thinking about my mom's struggles, during my childhood, and my own struggles when my babies were born, and he's speaking to all of us across the nation who've been there.

The crowd is roaring their approval...because we are, we have been, in this situation together.

[BrotherIvan]

25. I think his "family values" campaign is damn brilliant

For all the reasons you mention. If that doesn't get people to think, most especially compared to Republicans, then I don't know what will. That video is just awesome.

[heaven05]

26. thank you

bookmarked to take advantage of when I can have a time block to give proper analysis. And I have started.

[BrotherIvan]

27. I know it's long, I haven't even gotten a chance to watch a lot of it

I heard he takes questions for half an hour after speaking. I would like to hear what you think once you get a chance.

[heaven05]

28. I shall respond

[Number23]

34. Heaven, have you had a chance to listen yet? I don't have an hour+ to listen to a video

and I have scoured the Internet looking for an accompanying story on this but have found nothing. I guess Daily Kos must be the only place on the web that covered this discussion. I can't even find anything about it in any Des Moines newspapers.

Would be interested if any specific things were mentioned. I'd trust your perspective on this much more than others who seem far more interested in accusing others of "lying" about their interest in this or chastising folks for having the unmitigated gall to even think that Sanders, running for president of a country with a deep, violent history of racism as well as citizens of every hue and color, should have to even answer these questions. TIA!

[BrotherIvan]

36. Dupe

[BrotherIvan]

37. It is a long watch and I haven't gotten to it yet

But the highlighted section starts at 1:07. Normally you can link to a timecode in a video, but DU edits it out for some reason.

I personally was not dismissing anyone's concerns and I think neither were quite a lot of people amidst the yelling in those threads. What was being said was that in a single 35 minute kickoff speech, he did not add in throwaway lines about it as many politicians do. If he had been ignoring the problem over a longer period of time, then that would be a huge problem. But I do think that he is attacking issues more substantively one at a time as the campaign rolls out. A one-liner with room for applause does not do much more than lip service.

I am very glad to see him talking about this in clear and full terms. It is very urgent and very important. I also think that Obama needs to be doing all he can to address it right now while he is in office.

[Jefferson23]

45. Precisely..thanks. +1.

[heaven05]

40. No I have not listened yet

but today I do plan on listening. I know I can speak with a degree of certainty, as mentioned in another post here, Sen. Sanders does "walk the walk". There is no doubt in my mind. And while I expect no candidate to make racial issues a major policy stump speech( has never been really addressed by any presumptive candidate, ever) I expect strong and forceful words spoken about and to this large divisive issue confronting our culture. That's my bottom line. And according to BrotherIvan's post, Sen. Sanders is starting to address race and not just economics. I will see later today when I have the piece firmly planted in my consciousness.

What's TIA? All I could find was some kind of stroke like symptom...

[Number23]

49. TIA= Thanks in advance!

Yes, I'm very interested in any specifics re:policy, not just him discussing the matter. We already know what the problems are. I can't understand why there was not one single article on his comments anywhere that I could find.

[heaven05]

50. I did listen,

completely, even the Q&A, this morning. My comments are on the OP I started on the Bernie forum board. Policy speech. Bernie economic issues with not much else. 99.999% related to economic issues and what he would like to try to accomplish as POTUS in regard to those issues. SSI expansion, free college tuition, student debt relief, and much much more that I agree with. You can read my remarks and let me know..... I like Bernie above all the democratic candidates that are too cozy with the bankers and corporatists or just so rich they couldn't relate to living on 40 dollars after rent and food, for a month. I just hope I can hear specific policies aimed at trying to eradicate the racial hate and more money is not the cure all magic bullet that so many tout, here and other places.

Black people have been on television, in movies and films as principled human beings with family values, integrity, principle, loyalty and I know many everyday real people of color who have those values as priority also, so people have had a chance, since Uhuru(startrek) to be exposed to the black people and culture and accept POC as equals and most POC know that they are just as good as any other race and don't need anyone telling them that. Just accept. Black POTUS, Joint Chief of Staff, military leaders of soldiers, many AA soldiers, men and women have died for this 'democracy'. We've worked and struggled along side every other race and culture yet many, many people, with the help of the lies perpetrated by a fox news or RW hate radio hate us for our skin color only and the 'threat' that minorities represent to white racist to be on top of the american racial totem pole. That privilege is sacrosanct to them and they will kill to maintain that privilege. How stupid.

I am wishing idealistically here, because I know that racism will never be eradicated in this country, but if enough people of stature, leaders, speak of how ignorant and stupid racism is, maybe, just maybe one day, the racist bundy types, casebolt types, zimmerman types will think twice before shooting and abusing POC and can be permanently ostracized and marginalized if they choose not to accept all human beings as equal. Thank god for video phones. I'm renewing my passport, just in case 2016 turns out ugly....

[Number23]

51. Thanks, heaven. So you think it's a bit light on specifics. He'll (hopefully?) give more on this

later in the campaign.

[heaven05]

52. light on social justice specifics, only

and I hope you don't get me wrong. Be clear on this. His record and history in this area is honorable and much more substantive than ANY other democratic candidate we've had since the Kennedy-Johnson era. It's just that given the current racist environment of our culture, I feel a word by him would help to start real dialog on how to turn back to the modern time of the 21st century instead of the devolving nature of our culture currently, racially, back to the 19th and 20th century white supremacist thought and ACTION against the skin hue of a POC, that is happening. It's still early in the campaign season yet. So we'll see.

[LWolf]

41. It's worth the time.

I don't like being captive for a video, so I did a bunch of other stuff at my desk while it was playing. I'm glad I did.

[JEB]

29. K&R&bookmark. eom

[99Forever]

30. Another subject Bernie won't run from.

A genuine man, speaking genuine words about genuine issues.


This is why he will be our next President.

[Jefferson23]

31. Just a thought. I wonder if we can manage to volunteer for recording and then have

a written transcript in the respective states he'll be campaigning.

Due to its length one may miss some of the questions and answers,,they were
good but there were moments I could not hear his answers clearly enough.

The person who recorded it was speaking over it and seemed to be unaware of
that..nonetheless it was great and informative. I would love to see these transcribed,
people can read through much faster and you can also highlight points of interest
too and send them through e-mails..social media etc.

[BrotherIvan]

38. That is a great idea

I am often working so I can't watch video. Reading a transcript would be great. I wonder how to request that from the campaign.

[Jefferson23]

46. I wrote the campaign at their website where they ask if anyone would like to volunteer

there is a list with many options which also included a fill in the blank.

This may be something they have already planned for but I thought it would not hurt
to inquire. Transcribing needs to be accurate for obvious reasons, so I am not sure
what they'll think about it. Yet, people who do this sort of thing may already have the
necessary means..there is software I think and you may need a foot peddle or some
such thing. I have no idea what means they use at Democracy Now for example, after the
show, it takes them several hours to get the transcript online.

I would think it would be benefit, so we'll see what they think.

[BrotherIvan]

47. Yes, transcription is long and tedious

But it gets faster the more you do it. I have done it in my film work and it's a killer. I tried the software and it didn't speed it up for me, but I assume someone who does it all the time would. It is a good idea.

[Jefferson23]

48. I will post with any info I receive back..in the mean time the most important piece is that

Bernie is out there talking. So far, looks very encouraging.

[beam me up scottie]

32. Kick!

Thank you, BrotherIvan!

[BrotherIvan]

33. Thank you!

[beam me up scottie]

39. You veddy welcome!

[cui bono]

35. k n r for the night owls!!!

[historylovr]

43. K & R

Thanks for posting this, BrotherIvan!

[damnedifIknow]

44. Love it