A little over a month ago Bernie Sanders said this:
The Good News is: That you're hearing more and more about that issue. You're hearing about Ferguson, you're hearing about Baltimore, you're hearing about New York City, you're hearing about elsewhere.
The Bad News is: IF you think these issues have just occurred in the last year of two, you'd be sadly mistaken.
The truth is that for many many decades, there have been situations where the Police Officers have treated Prisoners terribly. And even in some cases, absolutely unjustly killed them.
Bernie Sanders On Black Lives Matter
link to video
Bernie Sanders 2016 -- posted on Jun 6, 2015
Bernie Sanders: Alright what to we have to do? We have to do a number of things:
[summarizing:]
1) We have to recognize Police have a tough Job. We got to Respect them. They have to be well-paid. And they have to be well-trained.
2) BUT, if a Police Officer does something wrong, like anybody else, they have to be held Accountable for their actions. If they break the Law they have got to be held Accountable.
3) We need to stop the Militarization of Police. Police Departments should NOT look like 'Armies'.
4) Community Policing: In effect, to integrate Police Officers in the Community -- so that they become part of the Community, so that actually know the people by name. We have to end the concept of of the Police as the Oppressors.
5) African American youth Unemployment is around 50%. We need to invest in Education and Jobs for our young people.
[end of clip]
It's a start. It's focused. And Bernie's plan would make a Big difference.
And yes, calling for Police Accountability is important. Isn't THAT what the BLM protests are all about, at their core?
Getting rid of Bad Cops, and holding them Accountable in the process?
And restoring Dignity and Respect, of course, to People of Color.
11:45 AM PT:
And Bernie Sanders recently made these heart-felt observations:
Bernie Sanders addresses Black while Walking!
link
Bernie Sanders:
I want to see an America where,
when young Black men walk down the street,
they will not be harassed by Police Officers,
they will not be killed,
they will not be shot.
[standing applause]
To his credit, President Obama did something extraordinary the other day.
He had the courage to go to a Federal Jail, and talk about he absurdity of a Criminal Justice System, in which if we don't change it:
1 out of 4 male African Americans born today,
will end up behind bars.
That is NOT the America We believe in.
That is why we believe it makes more sense,
to invest in Jobs and Education,
-- NOT Jails, and Incarceration.
[standing ovation]