Why Hillary Clinton and her rivals are struggling to grasp Black Lives Matter

[sufrommich]

The rise of Black Lives Matter has presented opportunities for Clinton and her opponents, who are seeking to energize black voters to build on the multiethnic coalitions that twice elected Barack Obama. But the candidates have struggled to tap into a movement that has proven itself to be unpredictable and fiercely independent. It is a largely organic web of young African American activists — many of them unbound by partisan allegiances and largely unaffiliated with establishment groups such as the NAACP that typically forge close ties with Democrats.

Led by several dozen core activists, many of whom voted for the first time in 2008, Black Lives Matter has organized protests at times drawing hundreds of participants that have occurred in more than two dozen cities and college campuses. Many of the movement’s leading activists are among Twitter’s most influential users — with the ability to pump messages out to hundreds of thousands of people, often prompting topics to trend nationwide. At times, they have pressured media outlets to cover stories surrounding race and justice, and have leveled sharp critiques of politicians and celebrities that often go viral — including negative comments about Clinton, Sanders and O’Malley.

The activists say they are now ready to have their say in the presidential race. While they are pressuring candidates to talk more about police brutality, they say they intend to carve out a broader agenda encompassing other issues relating to systemic racism.

“If you are running to be the leader of the free world it is your responsibility to seize the opportunity that the protest movement has created,” said Brittany Packnett, 30, a St. Louis-based activist who also serves on a White House task force formed after the Ferguson protests to study policing issues.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/why-hillary-clinton-and-her-rivals-are-struggling-to-grasp-black-lives-matter/2015/07/22/8b5870e8-2f34-11e5-8f36-18d1d501920d_story.html

[Agschmid]

1. All of our candidates need to step it up here.

They all have histories of working for civil rights, so what's next, what's the new plan...

The old one isn't working.

That's what I want to hear.

[still_one]

2. I don't think Hillary or her rivals are struggling to grasp BLM. I think they know exactly what it

is about. Their supporters are another question however

[sufrommich]

3. I don't agree. I don't think any of the campaigns have

grasped that the new civil rights movement isn't going to align with democrats without some major changes to our thinking. The new democratic majority is both minority and female,that needs to be reflected in the party if they want to keep their base.

[Fred Sanders]

14. Demographics have also changed in the Democratic Party, you make an excellent point.

[still_one]

15. You make a valid point in regard to the minority base, but in regard to women's rights the Democrats

have been leading the way for decades for fairness in the workplace, equal pay for equal work, abortion rights, etc.

[sufrommich]

16. Yes, you make a great point. nt

[still_one]

17. Battle on both fronts has a long way to go though as evidenced by recent Supreme Court rulings

[sufrommich]

18. In the case of a woman's right to choose,

this country is going backward.That needs to be shouted from the rooftops.

[still_one]

19. yup, and I hope it becomes part of the campaigns, it needs to be

[geek tragedy]

4. white politicians who have been in the game for decades

struggling to grasp an African-American protest movement?

Boy, did NOT see that one coming.

[sufrommich]

5. Yeah, I predict a sea change coming. nt

[geek tragedy]

7. this is the second election cycle where Democratic candidates for Preznit

have had to compete for the African-American vote. Courting the black and Latino vote just wasn't a thing in 2004--it was Iowa and NH and game over.

Whereas in 2008 you had two known quantities, this year you have one known quantity and two relatively unknown quantities.

They're going to be skeptical to all three, though in slightly different ways.

[sufrommich]

9. Skepticism is healthy and how our party reacts to

that skepticism will make of break us.

[brush]

6. Yep! Social media has allowed coordination and scheduling of events . . .

at unprecedented speed and reach. What a difference since even the 2012 election.

BLM has learned to use it well.

[whatchamacallit]

8. I support their efforts

After NRN I made the mistake of reflexively suspecting an affiliation with the Clinton campaign. Maybe it was because of DU posts by Hillary supporters, in the weeks leading up the the event, that seemed to be a preview of the BLM protest. Regardless, BLM's cause is urgent and cannot be ignored.

[stevenleser]

10. Agreed. It's a challenge and an opportunity, and no candidate has "done it right" yet.

At least Hillary and O'Malley supporters are not blaming/attacking/lecturing BLM/African Americans about it. So those candidates have that going for them.

But unless Hillary or O'Malley step up to take advantage, it won't be a help to them.

[cascadiance]

11. I'm hoping that a voice of leadership that we had in Martin Luther King before steps up now...

Someone who can give voice to those in this struggle, but one that can also help channel the forces of power in to properly prioritizing it in a big picture where there are so many problems affecting our nation (screwed middle class, screwed environment with climate change, corruption like we've never seen it before), etc.

If someone that the movement can trust to make sure that these issues get proper high level priority they deserve, but also get them attention in a way that doesn't break apart the forces that are working for so many needed changes on many fronts. If we split apart with too many not trying to put them all together in a united front, then we all lose! And the human race ultimately may lose permanently as we all may die in our lifetime due to what's happening to this planet.

It makes me appreciate that much more how great a man he was in his day and why we need to celebrate his day that much more in remembering what he brought to this country, and to help us honor his wishes moving forward.

[sufrommich]

12. You're not helping with comments like this.

"one that can also help channel the forces of power in to properly prioritizing it in a big picture". They've already named "the big picture" as far as they are concerned.

[cascadiance]

13. I guess someone doesn't like how a MLK could help us today?

HUH?

What in your mind is "the big picture"? The big picture in my mind is the sum total of things that affect us all. Yes, BLM's issues are BIG if not one of the BIGGEST issues to solve in the big picture. But if they are asking us to ignore all of the other issues and JUST to focus on theirs, then I'm sorry, that is only going to foster us dividing and ultimately all of us losing if we don't work together. MLK understood that. I know many today are frustrated and feel now is the time to focus on and solve these issues, that many here agree with too like myself. But just to mention other issues in context with this issue seems to be rejected as if we are "against" them when we mention anything else.

WHY????

[myrna minx]

20. This is a powerful opportunity for the Democratic Party to grow

And listen to the needs and demands of the new civil rights Freedon Riders. We ignore or worst mock and ridicule these activists at our own peril. This is just the beginning of a new powerful movement. Are the Dems in power and their supporters going to choose the better side of history and justice and support these activists? I hope so.