Obama at the Apollo (Update)

[ariesgem]

NEW YORK - Barack Obama invoked Rev. Martin Luther King's "fierce urgency of now" as he made his first visit as a presidential candidate to America's most famous black neighborhood, Harlem, venturing within sight of Bill Clinton's office to make his debut.

"I want to stand up for those who still hunger for opportunity, who still thirst for justice," Obama said Thursday night. "I don't want to wake up and find out four years from now that we missed this opportunity.... We cannot wait." That last quote is a reference to King's letter from the Birmingham Jail.

snip..................

But long lines of overwhelmingly black supporters waited outside for a $50-a-seat fundraiser at the Apollo Theater, a landmark cultural institution that was a focal point of the flowering of African-American cultural known as the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Gospel Choir sang the gospel standard "Oh Happy Day" while waiting for the candidate.

"How does it feel to be part of history," declared African-American scholar Cornel West, rousing the crowd to its feet.

"You'd be real embarrassed if he won and we wasn't down," said comedian Chris Rock, introducing Obama. "I had that white lady. What was I thinking? What was I thinking?"

Obama also spoke about the Jena Six case of black teens charged in a racially tinged incident in Louisana.

"I'm tired of reading about Jena," he said. "I'm tired of reading about nooses and I'm tired of hearing about a Justice Department that doesn't understand justice."

more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama_frinov30,1,1032848.story

[Colobo]

1. Gobama!

[farmboy]

6. Then Donnie McClurkin Came On Stage and Spoke About the Curse of Homosexuality...

Oh, sorry, wrong Obama event.

[emilyg]

11. Welcome to DU.

[saltpoint]

2. IMO, Senator Obama will win many a vote with a line like "I'm tired of hearing

about a Justice Department that doesn't understand justice."

And right out of the gate, it is the kind of line that frames public discourse after 8 years of just such a Justice Department failing comprehensively, and a line against which no Republican can easily counter.

Hear, hear, Senator.

[AtomicKitten]

3. "The Apollo Theater: Where Stars Are Born and Legends Are Made"

I'm counting on it.

Thanks for posting.

[ClarkUSA]

4. Beyond Geography was there and promised to give us a detailed report.

I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for the news.

[ariesgem]

5. I'm looking forward to that.

I hope Beyond Geography took plenty of pictures and will share them with us.

[ClarkUSA]

8. BG declined on the picture-taking but he did promise a good review.

I'm sure the campaign blog will have lots of photos up soon. BG is probably partying hearty over at the Lenox Lounge right now.
At least I hope he is. ;-)

[silverweb]

7. Good article...

...if somewhat sketchy on details of the event.


GObama!

[jaysunb]

9. Thanks for the update!

STILL, wish I were there !

[Drunken Irishman]

10. I didn't know Cornel West was backing Obama.

I have great respect for Cornel West.