rimurutempest-bounced asked:
iwriteaboutfeminism answered:
He let the protesters speak, but then ended the event, refusing to talk about the issues they raised.
He then issued this statement:
“I am disappointed that two people disrupted a rally attended by thousands at which I was invited to speak about fighting to protect Social Security and Medicare. I was especially disappointed because on criminal justice reform and the need to fight racism there is no other candidate for president who will fight harder than me.”
He is clearly not fighting hard enough. How does refusing to address the life-and-death concerns of black people show the black community that you are fighting for them? How can you say you do enough when people who are demanding you talk about this issue are a “disappointment”?
It was his opportunity to come back on stage when BLM was finished, and support what they were saying.
It’s not something that requires a team to come up with a plan. It’s literally just being human.
And its very “well im the only one saying anything (tweeting) and you should be grateful” with his response….
Was planning on voting for him but this is truly disappointing…
I ???
He was asked to speak on specific issues not pertaining to blm, he was asked to speak, as he said, on social security and medicare, and they rushed the stage and demanded that he let them speak, which he ultimately did.
First of all, it’s unwise for a candidate to make a statement that hasn’t been prepared? Especially on something as huge as fucking policies he intends to pursue implementing, which is what they were demanding that he do? He isn’t a tumblr blogger seeking notes, he’s a candidate. And he can’t be seen as a pushover. He can’t be perceived as a presidential candidate who will let people rush his stage and passively let them take the mic and then ??? laud them for it? And if he said something disapproving, then his liberal base would desert him, even if he was just saying “I approve of your message, but not the way you’re going about this” his liberal base would skin him for tone policing. And the reason he ended the event was because when the protesters finally got their four and a half minute moment of silence they refused to leave the stage. Was he supposed to let the event drag on for however long the protesters decided they wanted to stay? Again, he is a legitimate candidate for public office, he can’t be a pushover who will bow to the whims of whoever’s shouting at him the loudest, even if what they’re shouting at him is about important, meaningful issues.
Second of all, he has spoken repeatedly on blm (obviously there are more, primarily, yes, tweets, but I’m honestly not going to go through bernie’s entire twitter to find all of the tweets, we’ve all seen the many posts) I’m not sure what you want him to do?
Third of all, ohmygod who are you going to vote for in the primaries now? H i l l a r y (rape tw for the link on H)? A fucking Republican? Even if he isn’t a dream candidate (he’s fucking close, but I digress) he’s absolutely, by far the best.
Fourth of all, yes, of course he plugged his campaign? “I was especially disappointed because on criminal justice reform and the need to fight racism there is no other candidate for president who will fight harder than me.” he’s not saying “be grateful,” he’s a candidate saying “yes, I care about these issues.” He’s a candidate. His job is to plug his campaign and the issues he supports and cares about. He’s saying “elect me, and I’ll fight for these issues” which is, you know, his job as a presidential candidate.
Yes, force candidates to discuss these issues! Put them on the spot! Hell, rush Hillary! But I don’t think that protesting the only candidate who has had any meaningful commentary on these issues and does already talk about them is helpful in the long run. Maybe if activists were storming the speeches of other candidates for office like this, demanding that they allow them to speak, it wouldn’t be so confounding, but the one candidate who has spoken on this repeatedly??
Do any of you know any of the basics of a political campaign? AGAIN an example of tumblr just seeking out a reason to be mad at someone, 16 year olds screaming “NOT GOOD ENOUGH, PROBLEMATIC! PROBLEMATIC!” Just for once try not yell about something you know you don’t understand.
Thank you for saying this! People expect Bernie to be perfect, to say and do exactly what they want even if what they want is narrow minded.
Bernie did the right thing in the situation. Please educate yourself on how the world is not Tumblr, people. Don’t blow this opportunity.
Lmao. I bet ya’ll didn’t even watch any other video than what you saw in mainstream media. If you don’t live in Seattle right now then you don’t fully get the big picture. Lots of folks ESPECIALLY and mostly exclusive white folks wall around here with a pseudo progressively liberal chip on their shoulder. Did ya’ll also see the part where the crowd turned UGLY? Things being yelled a them “arrest them” “tase them” booing BLM and saying Bernie Matters!! Like…. All of ya’ll with that Grandpa Bernie thirst seem to forget that HE IS A POLITICIAN. That represents a bullshit two party system that can you even take seriously when people like Donald Trump are allowed to run? Ya’ll really wanna see black folks put their bodies on the line to try that on Hillary? The secret service would have had their day with them. Did you even consider why Bernie is probably the most appropriate candidate to attempt this discourse with regardless of the method? LET ME MAKE THIS REAL SIMPLE FOR YA’LL, **IF YOU ARE A WHITE PERSON OR A NON BLACK POC IT IS NOT YOUR PLACE TO JUDGE NOR SPEAK ON** how these womxn wanted wanted to go about their activism. I think this situation raised and will force those of us who stand with Bernie to ask ourselves some question. Can we understand the place of hurt and anger where these actions are coming from? Can we understand why black voters would be weary of outing their vote and their trust into just anyone? Especially someone who is or will be a vital part of a system that has failed them continuously? I see no harm in asking him to acknowledge these questions and conversations. Systemic change doesn’t happen easily. It’s very hard and ESPECIALLY for marginalized communities who are trying to get their message heard. Sometimes the way the message is delivered will make folx uncomfortable and anger those who do not fully understand. We shouldn’t condemn these womxn for challenging comfort zones especially ones that are path of a societal system that has produced racial injustice left and right. Also lol let me tell you something I’m glad this came about because it really shines a light on how “progressive liberal white people” aren’t really here for poc especially black folx. I’m noticed the same bullshit themes coming from white folx “don’t appreciate being called a white racist,” “disrespectful,” “not a great way to win people over to your side,” “MY candidate,” “have your own rally.” All of these suggest this feeling of outrage because these black organizers came and disrupted “your” rally, “your” candidate. When they (white folx) no longer became the white liberal target audience Sanders was made to address, they feel like their time is being wasted. Seattle still doesn’t understand the silencing and racist dangers of respectability politics. This racist system, including the police, including the electoral system, the housing system, the justice system, DOES NOT respect Black lives even to the point of letting them live. Whenever white “supporters” say don’t be disrespectful it’s saying, I’ll hear you when it’s convenient to getting “my” candidate elected and my political issues supported, but as soon as you start to ask for something to actually be done at the cost of my white privilege, you have broken my rules. You can’t claim you’re here for black lives, be “supporters of the cause” if you aren’t willing to 1) accept that not every action is going to be carried out or perceived perfectly, 2) realize that you can’t just support economic issues without changing social dynamics (and vice versa) and 3) letting go on the grip of your white privilege has on the out come of these political processes like getting Bernie Sanders elected, as some liberal white gift to America.
