Bernie Sanders Vows to Continue MLK's Revolution

By Scott Galindez, Reader Supported News

25 November 15

enator Bernie Sanders spent Monday, November 23rd in Atlanta, capping a two-day swing through Georgia.

Calling the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “a hero” and “an inspiration,” Sanders visited the King Center, where he said he was “honored and pleased” to meet with the Rev. Bernice King, the Kings’ youngest daughter.

“Dr. King saw not only the need to end racism and segregation but to create an economy that works for all Americans,” Sanders told reporters gathered on a sidewalk outside the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. was the pastor.

As a student activist at the University of Chicago, Sanders traveled to Washington D.C. in 1963 to attend the March on Washington and saw King deliver his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.

Atlanta native and rap star Killer Mike introduced Sanders to a crowd of thousands at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre. “I have said in many a rap, I don’t trust the church or the government, a Democrat, Republican, a pope, a bishop or those other men,” Killer Mike said. “But after spending five hours tonight, after spending five hours with someone who has spent the last 50 years radically fighting for your rights and mine, I can tell you that I am very proud tonight to announce the next president of the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders.”

In a rousing speech at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Sanders challenged the mostly young crowd to stand with him to keep the extraordinary vision of Dr. King alive.

What King said, according to Sanders, “was that of course, we have to end segregation at lunch counters and hotels and universities and schools. But he also said, ‘What difference does it make if a family can’t afford to send their kids to those schools or eat at that restaurant?’”

“He talked about a nation that had socialism for the rich and rugged individualism for the poor,” Sanders said.

Sanders reminded the crowd that in the final days of his life, Dr. King was organizing a poor people’s march on Washington.

“It was a march not just of African-Americans, but of Latinos, of whites, of all people in this country to march on Washington to demand fundamental changes in our national priorities.”

Sanders opened his speech with a lengthy tribute to King’s legacy before accusing Republican presidential candidates of using “racist and outrageous attacks” against outsiders.

“They are trying to open the door to racism, whether it’s against our Hispanic brothers and sisters or Muslims,” said Sanders. “And we are going to shut that down.”

In the past week Bernie has ratcheted up his outreach to African-American voters. In South Carolina he attended black churches and participated in the BET 2015 Presidential Justice Forum.

Text of Killer Mike’s introduction of Sanders:

I am honored to be here. Oh, I am truly, truly honored to be here. I am from Atlanta, Georgia, and I say that proudly. I repeat: I am from Atlanta, Georgia, and I say that proudly.

If you’re from Atlanta, Georgia, you may be familiar with a young man who grew up not far from here. His name is Martin King. Now, I know this is the part where usually it’s a black minister in front of you, and usually you get all warm and cozy inside, and usually you hear about ‘I have a dream’ and holding hands and going for ice cream.

That’s not why I’m here today. I’m not here to talk about benevolent politicians that are going to come and save the day for you. I’m not here to talk about the dream that you think is unattainable so you settle for less. I’m not here to talk about Utopian society where everyone is forgiven and no one has to pay for past debts.

What I am talking about today is Martin King post the Washington march. Martin King on the war on poverty. Martin King against the war machine that uses your sons and your nephews to go to other lands and murder. I have no time in my short 40 years on this Earth to relive the Reagan years. I have no desire to see us elect our own Margaret Thatcher.

I am here as a proponent of the liberal revolution that says healthcare is a right. I am here because working class and poor people deserve a chance at economic freedom. And yes, you work 40 hours a week – and you should not be in poverty.

While here, I have to tell you that in my heart of hearts, in my heart of hearts, I fully believe that Sen. Bernie Sanders is the right man to lead this country. I believe it because he, unlike any other candidate, said I would like to restore the Voting Rights Act. He, unlike any other candidate, said I wish to end this illegal war on drugs. Unlike any other candidate in my life, he said that education should be free.

Now, I only have a few minutes. But as I read The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s comments about me speaking tonight, one jumped out at me. And it broke my heart. It said, “I don’t listen to rap and I will no longer be listening to Bernie Sanders.”

I just want to say that, whoever wrote that, before I was a rapper, I was a son of Atlanta.

Before I ever wrote one rhyming word on paper, before that, I was a black man in America.

And before I ever learned how to dance a jig, I gave a damn about American politicians.

I gave a damn about the people of America. And I took to the streets.

I know I’m preaching to the choir tonight. I know there are not a lot of voices of dissension out there. I know I’m preaching to the choir. But I’m here to tell you: Stay encouraged. Stay invigorated. Stay bold. Stay counteracting bull****.

Make sure that wherever you go, you take the name, the idea, the philosophy and the ideology of Bernie Sanders there. And you make sure that when you read they are on fire, that you felt the Bern.

I have said in many a rap I don’t trust the church or the government. A Democrat or a Republican. A Pope or a bishop or them other men.

But after spending five hours tonight with someone who has spent the last 50 years radically fighting for your rights and mine, I can tell you that I am very proud tonight to announce the next president of the United States: Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.

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