Bernie Sanders doesn’t think an apology is necessary for the Black Lives Matter protesters, even though his campaign already issued one.
Appearing on “NBC’s Meet the Press” Sunday, Chuck Todd pressed Sanders about a Buzzfeed article that said, “I apologize it took our campaign so long.” Sanders replied that it “was sent out without my knowledge.”
Chuck Todd: Buzzfeed has an article out this morning. Headline is ‘Sanders’ Campaign Reaches Out To Black Lives Matter Activists. Quote, ‘I apologize it took our campaign so long.’ Tell me more about it.
Bernie Sanders: Well, that was sent out by a staffer, not by me. Look, we are reaching out to all kinds of groups, absolutely. I met with people at Black Lives Matter. We’re reaching out to Latino groups. We’re reaching out to the unions. We’re fighting to expand Social Security and we’re reaching out to senior groups. We’re reaching out to health care groups because we believe that everybody in America is entitled to health care. We’re reaching out to everybody. But on this issue of Black Lives Matter, let me be very clear, the issue they are raising is a very, very important issue. And there is no candidate for president who will be stronger in fighting against institutional racism and, by the way, reforming a broken criminal justice system. Chuck, we have more people in jail in the United States of America than any country on earth. And we need real changes. We need to do away with the militarization of local police departments. We need to do away with minimum sentencing. We needed indication and jobs for our young people rather than jails and incarceration.
Todd: I understand that. You said a staffer put it out but you felt an apology was necessary?
Sanders: No, I don’t. I think we’re going to be working with all groups. This was sent out without my knowledge.
Todd: Fair enough.