20 Examples of Bernie Sanders' Powerful Record on Civil and Human Rights Since the 1950s

[Le Taz Hot]

Over the past few months, one lingering blemish on Bernie Sanders' candidacy for the Democratic nomination is his indifference to racial justice and civil rights issues.

But the truth is, Sanders has a 50-year history of standing up for civil and minority rights, as he told the attendants of Netroots Nation after he was interrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters. Of course, it's understandable that they want to bring attention to the movement. Killings of people from Ferguson to New York City to Los Angeles to Atlanta have finally brought important issues like police brutality, systemic racism, mass incarceration and militarization of the police into the center of national dialogue.

It is up to all candidates for the presidency, including every Democrat, every Republican and independent candidates, to address these issues in a forthright manner and to do outreach and communicate with communities that are besieged by these problems. Although his events in Phoenix, Houston and Dallas, where he loudly condemned police brutality and racism were a start, Sanders owes it to pay attention to these activists and listen to the concerns of marginalized groups whose civil rights have historically been suppressed. Sanders does have a record of fighting on these issues, and it should be only natural for him to be able to comfortably address them before a diverse audience.

<more>

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/20-examples-bernie-sanders-powerful-record-civil-and-human-rights-1950s

[JDPriestly]

1. Great article. I must quote from it also.

15. Strongly Condemned Police Violence Over the Past Year: One criticism of Sanders is that he avoids talking about police violence in favor of talking about the economy. While the economy forms the bulk of his pitch, he has repeatedly condemned police violence during the duration of the Black Lives Matter movement. Here he is in mid-August 2014, before frontrunner Clinton ever spoke about the issue. Here (8/20/14) are (8/24/14) a (8/18/14) few (6/6/2015) more (4/30/2015) examples (6/2015).

16. Embraced Immigrants When Hillary Clinton Refused To Talk To Them: In 2014, young immigration activists repeatedly tried to talk to Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton to ask her about executive action. While Clinton did not talk to them, Bernie Sanders was not only willing to talk, but agreed with their call for executive action.

. . . .

19. Called For End to War On Drugs, For-Profit Prisons and Migrant Detention Quotas:Sanders supports decriminalizing marijuna, and believes the war on drugs to be a failure. Additionally, he has vowed to end for-profit prisons and immigrant detention quotas.

20. Put Out Detailed Plan to End Economic Crisis in Minority Communities: Many argue that Sanders views the issue of racial justice in too myopic a fashion by focusing on the economy. But polling of both Latinos and African Americans shows that jobs and the economy is either their top concern or tied for their top concern. Gallup polling shows that 13 percent of Hispanics say immigration is their top concern; 47 percent say the economy is. Meanwhile, among black Americans, 13 percent say “race relations” is their top concern, tied with “unemployment/jobs,” an additional 10 percentage points go to the “economy in general.” Combined, economic concerns make up 23 percentage points while race relations compose 13 percent. If you add in healthcare, at 6 percent, another major Sanders theme, it gets you up to 29 percent. Add in poverty at 7 percent and education at 5 percent and you're up to 41 percent of African Americans naming Bernie Sanders' top issues as their top issues.

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/20-examples-bernie-sanders-powerful-record-civil-and-human-rights-1950s

Note that Bernie was one of the very first to issue a statement condemning the police action in Ferguson. He is unwavering in his support of the interests and concerns of African-Americans.

The Netroots event should have been better organized and provided both the BLM group and Bernie and O'Malley sufficient time on their schedule.

[Cheese Sandwich]

2. Bernie grew up in Brooklyn

And went to school there.
Even though some people call him an old white guy from Vermont and that is also true.

[Le Taz Hot]

3. Kick

Because these are things that need to be read. Warning: There's no salaciousness to it so the thread is dropping. But I'm going to do something I rarely do and kick my own posts.

Sanders supporters: Don't let the bullies get to you. Keep posting the TRUTH about Bernie. He has a LONG tradition of supporting Civil Rights and, despite what certain factions want to tell you, 50 years of activism DOES COUNT.

[think]

4. K&R.

[seveneyes]

5. All good but he failed to stand there like a deer in the headlights while being heckled

For some, that erases all the good he has done and plans to do. The flogging will continue until some undefined contrition is achieved.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. I've decided there are going to be detractors

no matter what he does or doesn't do. That's someone else's agenda and it has nothing to do with the campaign. I've decided the best thing to do is to just keep pointing to his 50-year-record of supporting Civil Rights and Social Justice. People can choose to recognize and respect that or not. It's up to them. I'm secure in supporting a man who has walked the walk for 50 years.

[NikolaC]

6. K&R n/t

[JaneyVee]

8. I'll give it a kick, because....

Unlike the anti-Hillary brigade I can give credit where credit is due. KNR!