Scene: Presidential Justice Forum at Benedict College, an HBCU – Historically Black College & University, in South Carolina (the actual forum itself is worth a deeper discussion than this post)
Black student: “If I was your son, what advice would you give me next time I’m pulled over by a police officer?”
(The question stumped Bernie and he asked the student to repeat the question)
Bernie Sanders: “I would do my best to identify who that police officer is in a polite way, ask him or her for their name. I would respect what they are doing so that you don’t get shot in the back of the head.”
It’s important to note that Bernie agreed to do this forum about criminal justice at an HBCU. This wasn’t a hot mic walking out of a congressional hearing or another event following a traumatic incident of police brutality. Did he not expect to get asked a question about criminal justice and its impact on African-Americans at this event? Regardless, that’s the best answer he could come up with?
Unacceptable.
That response is beyond troubling because Bernie is basically implying that the only reason Black men get shot by the police is because they’re not respectful, and if they would just be respectful then they wouldn’t get shot and killed. We don’t have to dive deep into history to know that this is a false narrative often pushed by media, ignorant and racist pundits, and a narrative clearly perpetuated by one, if not more than one, presidential candidate.
Sean King and Nina Turner, prominent Black social and political supporters and voices in his corner, and he was still ill-prepared to answer such a question. It’s embarrassing and likely disqualifying for many millennials of color.
Will he win the nomination? Who knows. If I was a gambler I’d say Biden will win because he’s atop of the polls and appears to be the safe choice, for both White women and older Black voters. But Bernie has consistently been a top-3 candidate from the beginning, and whether he is or not, it’s not reassuring to know that the potential Commander-in-Chief thinks police brutality is a byproduct of victims being disrespectful.
Race, a tough topic that has stumped many of the Democratic candidates, can’t be brushed aside considering these candidates simply can’t win without minorities turning out in droves to vote for them. Biden, Buttigieg, Sanders, they’ve all struggled when dealing with issues and direct questions about race, and this is yet another unacceptable-disqualifying example.
Democratic presidential candidates… do better.
.@BernieSanders to black student on how to handle getting pulled over by the police: “Identify who the police officer is – respect what they are doing so that you don’t get shot in the back of the head.”
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) October 26, 2019