Sanders takes Black Lives Matter activist up on offer to talk racial justice

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders tweeted on Monday that he would meet with civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson and others to discuss his racial justice platform.

”[email protected], the first draft of your racial justice platform has promise. When will you be available to discuss enhancements w/ folks?,” McKesson tweeted this morning.


Sanders responded: “@deray Let’s do it. We will PM you this week to arrange.”

Sanders’ back-and-forth with Mckesson comes as the Democratic presidential candidate has had two of his events disrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters, who are pressuring Sanders and other White House contenders to prioritize remedies for institutional racism.

Mckesson, one of the most prominent Black Lives Matter activists, surged to prominence last year in the aftermath of the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, drawing attention for his Twitter and Instagram feeds providing organizing information.

Before becoming a member of the organization We the Protesters, he worked as a school administrator in Minnesota until earlier this year, when he moved to St. Louis.

Cool. Folks are ready to discuss policy. And I think you meant "DM." ???. https://t.co/Xuff4iFWxR — deray mckesson (@deray) August 17, 2015

Mckesson has become a sought-after voice among Democratic presidential contenders. In June, Hillary Clinton invited Mckesson to attend her official campaign kickoff event, and The Huffington Post reported last week that he and activist Brittany Packnett met with members of Clinton’s campaign to discuss issues related to race and policing.

Also in June, Mckesson tweeted praise for Sanders’ “powerful statements on race, police reform, and employment.”