Cornel West, an American civil-rights activist and academic, has endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for president.
West tweeted the endorsement on Monday night, explaining that Sanders has “authenticity and integrity” beyond his 2016 rivals.
I endorse Brother @BernieSanders because he is a long-distance runner with integrity in the struggle for justice for over 50 years.
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
Now is the time for his prophetic voice to be heard across our crisis-ridden country. #BernieSanders
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
We will push him with integrity toward a more comprehensive vision of freedom for all. @BernieSanders #BernieSanders2016
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
The endorsement from West, a long-standing, prominent black voice in American politics, comes after the Sanders campaign faced multiple disruptive protests from the Black Lives Matter movement. The incidents brought into focus Sanders’ lack of minority support. Since then, the Sanders campaign has committed to meeting with Black Lives Matter leaders.
West’s previous endorsements include former Sen. Bill Bradley (D-NJ) in 2000 and then-Sen. Barack Obama 2008.
West also commented extensively on the candidacy of Donald Trump, the current front-runner in the Republican bid for the White House.
Brother Bernie and Brother Trump are authentic human beings in stark contrast to their donor-driven opponents.
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
Yet only Bernie has authenticity and integrity, whereas Trump is for real but not for right.
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
Trump's attacks on precious Mexican brothers and sisters are unconscionable — even as his blessed mother was born in Scotland…
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
…and grandfather (Mr. Drumpf) was born in Germany. #Trump
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
Trump's kind of nativistic hostility could have excluded them.
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
His unpatriotic complicity with the plutocratic corruption of our political system for over 30 yrs calls into question his integrity #Trump
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
And calls into question his commitment to "make America great again." #Trump
— Cornel West (@CornelWest) August 25, 2015
H/T CNN | Photo via AFGE / flickr (CC BY 2.0) | Remix by Max Fleishman