Sanders woos NY with Spike Lee-directed ad
African American, Arab activists throw weight behind Democratic presidential hopeful before primary battle on home turf
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSpike Lee has directed a new campaign spot released Saturday for Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, with rights activists giving the Vermont senator their endorsement.
Director-producer Lee has been a longtime supporter of Sanders; both grew up in New York City.
A supporter of free tuition at state universities, Sanders has attracted much of the young voters’ support, but he is faring poorly with rival Hillary Clinton among African Americans in particular ahead of the crucial New York primary on April 19.
“People of color have a deeply vested interest in what Bernie Sanders brings to us in this election,” singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte says in the 30-second spot.
Referring to a list of names of victims of police violence, Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King said “They’re not just hashtags and trending topics. But these are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters.”
Linda Sarsour, who leads the Arab American Association of New York, adds: “Bernie Sanders sees all of me. He sees all of you. He sees us a whole people, as a whole country. That’s why I’m voting for Bernie Sanders.”
Clinton is still the clear front-runner for the Democratic party presidential ticket for November’s general election, but Sanders has the momentum and has enjoyed a string of successes at the polls in recent weeks.
On Saturday, the Vermont senator won 55.7 percent of the vote in Wyoming to Clinton’s 44.3, CNN projected, with most ballots counted.
The Times of Israel Community.