Bernie Sanders Meets With 'Long-Time Friend' Jesse Jackson - CNN [View all]

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Bernie Sanders meets with 'long-time friend' Jesse Jackson
By Dan Merica, CNN
Updated 7:58 AM ET, Tue August 18, 2015

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Washington (CNN)—Bernie Sanders met with civil rights leader Jesse Jackson on Monday in Chicago amid an active push by his campaign to more forcefully address race and criminal justice issues.

"Sen. Sanders is a long-time friend of Rev. Jackson. They held a very productive, hour-long meeting at Operation PUSH headquarters on important issues confronting the country and the African-American community," Michael Briggs, Sanders' campaign spokesman, said in an email to CNN.

Jackson tweeted about the meeting on Monday, noting that Sanders' wife, Jane, joined the gathering.

"Meeting today with @SenSanders and wife today @RPCoalition Headquarters," he wrote.

Meeting today with @SenSanders and wife today @RPCoalition Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/DPeJBx4D6u
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) August 17, 2015

Jackson and Sanders have history together: The independent senator endorsed Jackson's failed 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns.

Representatives for Jackson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Since launching his presidential campaign earlier this year, Sanders has been dogged by questions about his ability to effectively advocate for criminal justice reform and win over African-American voters. Protestors from Black Lives Matter, a nationwide movement focused on the death of African-American men and women at the hand of police, ended a Sanders appearance earlier this month in Seattle and have protested a handful of other events.

Sanders' campaign has tried to address the issue. The candidate has worked race and justice issues into nearly every speech he gives, and the campaign has hired Symone Sanders, a young African-American woman, as their national press secretary.

Representatives from the campaign have also reached out to Deray McKesson, an influential Black Lives Matter activist with a large social media presence, about setting up a meeting.

".@BernieSanders, the first draft of your racial justice platform has promise," McKesson tweeted on Monday. "When will you be available to discuss enhancements w/ folks?"

Sanders account responded: "@deray Let's do it. We will PM you this week to arrange."

@deray Let's do it. We will PM you this week to arrange.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 17, 2015

Briggs would not confirm when the meeting with McKesson would happen, but said the campaign is working to schedule meetings with "many different people."

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Link: http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/17/politics/bernie-sanders-jesse-jackson-black-lives-matter/