Citizen Action of New York Endorses Bernie Sanders for President

First New York Statewide Organization to Back Sanders, Citing Historic Opportunity to Win Economic, Social and Racial Justice

Albany, NY – Citizen Action of New York announced Monday its endorsement of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States. Citizen Action’s endorsement of Senator Sanders marks the first statewide organization in New York to stand with the Senator who is running in the Democratic Primary.

“We desperately need a president who will fight back against the schemes that CEOs and Wall Street bankers have used to destroy our economy and steal wealth from our communities, especially communities of color,” said Ivette Alfonso, President of Citizen Action of New York and a parent from Albany. “Everyone in New York and across America should have the opportunity to live a healthy and prosperous life. We’re proud to stand with Bernie Sanders for President because we know he understands that our communities are stronger when we care for our neighbors and work together.”

“Citizen Action of New York builds grassroots power by organizing communities to stand up for an America that works for all of us, not just the top 1 percent,” Sen. Sanders said. “I’m honored to receive their endorsement.”

Citizen Action of New York is a community-based grassroots organization with over 30,000 members and 7 chapters and affiliates across New York State. Each regional chapter and affiliate board held discussions about Citizen Action’s presidential endorsement and made recommendations to the organization’s state board, which voted overwhelmingly to endorse Bernie Sanders for president.

Citizen Action’s volunteer leadership cited Senator Sanders’ positions on the economy and Wall Street regulation, the environment and energy policy, racial and gender justice, and strengthening democracy by limiting the power of the financial elite as key factors in their decision to endorse.

Featuring members of Citizen Action’s board, the organization released a video to announce the reasons for its endorsement. The video can be found here: https://citizenactionny.org/ bernie

“Our planet is facing dire consequences if we don’t take drastic measures to reverse course on climate change,” said Jim Anderson, Vice President of Citizen Action of New York and a resident of Buffalo. “And it’s communities of color and low-income people who will suffer these consequences first. Bernie is the only candidate willing to confront the gravity of the situation and do something about it.”

“With all the wealth in the United States, no one who works should live in poverty, and Senator Sanders has been standing with us in the #FightFor15 to make sure no one will,” saidKaren Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York. “We’re excited to join Senator Sanders in standing up to the CEOs who have rigged the system to boost their profits at the expense of the rest of us.”

Citizen Action of New York will work with its members to support Senator Sanders’ campaign by discussing these issues with voters and sharing their own reasons for supporting him. Resources will be posted at https://citizenactionny.org/ bernie.

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