Sanders Increases Campaign's Focus On Racial Justice Reform

Nicole Gaudiano, USA TODAY 7:20 p.m. EDT July 30, 2015
sanders-race

WASHINGTON — African-American leaders say they want to hear more about racial justice from presidential candidates, and Sen. Bernie Sanders has responded with an earful.

The Vermont independent has become increasingly vocal and specific about the need to combat poverty in the African-American community and “institutional racism.”

Sanders, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, was heckled on stage and mocked on Twitter recently for not adequately addressing the issue, and some observers noted that his campaign announcement in May made no mention of criminal justice reform.

“We are tired of seeing black women yanked out of a car, thrown to the ground, assaulted, put in handcuffs and then sent to jail and then die three days later,” Sanders said Wednesday during a live broadcast to volunteers. He was referring to the July 13 death of Sandra Bland, an African-American woman who died in jail after a traffic stop in Texas. Her death was ruled a suicide, but her family disputes the finding.

“For what crime?” Sanders said. “She didn’t signal that she made a left turn. We’re seeing that all over this country. Enough is enough.”

MORE...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/07/30/sanders-focuses--racial-justice-reform/30891827/