Cornel West announces BLM activist, professor Melina Abdullah as VP pick

Source: Washington Post

April 10, 2024 at 12:57 p.m. EDT


Independent presidential candidate Cornel West on Wednesday announced his running mate, Melina Abdullah, a Pan-African studies professor and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, as he seeks to gain ballot access in more states ahead of the November general election.

West and Abdullah appeared together on “The Tavis Smiley Show,” a Black radio talk show, previewing their long-shot ticket as a more liberal alternative to the other third-party ticket options.

“She’s one of the great freedom fighters of a generation, one of the great love warriors of a generation,” West told Smiley. “She’s a lover of people.”

West, 70, a prominent activist and author, initially launched his campaign last June, seeking the Green Party’s nomination, before he opted to become an independent candidate. His announcement comes as he aims to qualify for the ballot in 26 states and D.C., which require an independent presidential candidate petitioning for ballot access to submit the name of their running mate, according to Ballot Access News.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/10/cornel-west-announces-blm-activist-professor-melina-abdullah-vp-pick/