Hillary Clinton’s Black Lives Meeting has concluded and thus far we have been hearing bits and pieces of what was discussed. The group apparently talked about a variety of topics with the Democratic 2016 presidential candidate, including police militarization, black and LGBT rights, plus institutionalized racism.
In a related report by the Inquisitr , Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke has called the Black Lives Matter movement a collection of “misfits,” and claims the groups should be protesting joblessness and failing schools , not the police.
In the past, relations between the Black Lives Matter movement and Democratic candidates like Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have been strained. Members of the group have been seen targeting progressives who may otherwise be sympathetic to their cause. In fact, Donald Trump has even mocked Sanders over an incident in which Black Lives Matter activists commandeered Sanders’ microphone and essentially shut down his event.
Based upon a transcription provided by NPR , Hillary Clinton’s Black Lives Matter meeting went fairly well. Clinton met with a number of Black Lives Matter members, including DeRay Mckesson, Brittany Packnett, Johnetta Elzie and Samuel Sinyangwe. Mckesson says the meeting started with an informal discussion on Twitter, but the Clinton campaign was able to work in 90 minutes for them to discuss the major issues.
We just finished the meeting w/ @HillaryClinton re: #CampaignZero , race, & criminal justice. pic.twitter.com/22ma5p4kJF
— deray mckesson (@deray) October 9, 2015
“We talked about a range of issues spanning from private prisons to mental health services for young kids to the role of the federal government ensuring equity in local and state governments in a community,” explained Mckesson. “So it was a tough conversation, candid conversation. I’m hopeful that it will lead to an informed platform that she eventually rolls out.”
The biggest difference of opinion was the role of police within local communities. In recent times, the Department of Homeland Security has been providing military grade gear to police units, and it is even possible for cops to buy a MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protection) vehicle designed for war in Afghanistan and Iraq. While the Black Lives Matter movement wants the power of the police reduced, it is claimed that Clinton has said “police presence was necessary.” At the same time, all in attendance reportedly agreed that ending police militarization should be a major platform.
Meckesson has already been involved in the creation of what they are calling Platform Zero . According to the Huffington Post , the basic concept is that the United States must “reform existing structural issues with policing and put in place new systems that will end police violence against black Americans.” Platform Zero also calls for mandatory police body cameras, racial bias training for police officers, and the creation of a special federal prosecutor whose job it is to investigate all cases where a civilian is seriously injured or killed by police.
“In this moment, everything is on the table, right? There are no more sacred institutions,” Mckesson said last month. “What we know to be true is that there are structures and systems that were intentionally put in place that were harming people, and the protest community is willing to question all of them.”
While it seems uncertain if Hillary Clinton’s Black Lives Matter meeting ended with her fully supporting all the measures proposed by Platform Zero, it did seem Clinton found other issues where they were in full agreement.
That moment when you hear @HillaryClinton say that the violence against trans women of color is a national crisis. pic.twitter.com/OwrcgXOSFc
— CHERNO BIKO (@ChernoBiko) October 9, 2015
Another major issue was ending private prisons funded by the federal government. Although specifics were not released, Clinton also discussed racism in relation to her meeting with the Black Lives Matter leaders.
Racism is America’s original sin. To those I met with today, thank you for sharing your ideas. -H https://t.co/ICqYepExxB
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 9, 2015
What do you think about Hillary Clinton’s Black Lives Matter meeting? What issues do you consider most important in the upcoming election?
[Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images]