Leaders of African American groups in Syracuse are detailing why they support voting for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential election. Their reasons range from civil rights to better educational opportunities.
For some people, support for Sanders has its roots all the way back to the Civil Rights Movement. College student Maurice Brown is a Sanders delegate from the 24th Congressional District. He says Sanders has been fighting for black rights long before he was even born.
“He’s been for the people, for us, before his presidential campaign,” Brown said. “He’s the only candidate who marched on Washington in 1963. He was arrested for protesting segregation in 1963. I was born in 1992. He’s been fighting for me so I’m going to fight for him.”
Brown says if Sanders has been fighting for equality in America for over half a decade, one vote is the least he can do. Alliance Network representative Latrelle Dunbar agrees. But she says the main reason for her support is simply for better futures for her kids.
“One of the main reasons I’m voting for Bernie is for my three sons,” Dunbar said. “I brought them into this world and they shouldn’t feel like they don’t belong. We’re all human and the racial inequality starts in the schools. I think that Bernie Sanders is someone that will address these things. So, it is very important that he gets my vote.”
Other black leaders say he’s the only candidate who will stay true to his plans for radically shifting political power in the country. Many of them also refute critics who say that the crowds who have been showing up to rallies won’t show up on Primary Election Day.
Sanders and his democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, face off in a debate tonight in Brooklyn. The debate can be seen on CNN.
On the Republican side, Ted Cruz visits Central New York tomorrow. Cruz will be holding a rally at Driver's Village in Cicero. The rally will begin at 2 p.m. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, Cruz's republican adversary, has a local event Saturday. Trump will be holding a rally at the Oncenter Convention Center. The event will begin at 9 a.m.