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Today's New York Times headline captured a Congressman's plea to speak at a Black Lives Matter rally:
Eliot Engel’s Hot Mic Moment: ‘If I Didn’t Have a Primary, I Wouldn’t Care’
Engel's primary opponent, Bronx principal Jamaal Bowman, says "We need leaders who understand what we are going through. Jamaal shared that while driving to pick up his 3-year-old son, he was pulled over for supposedly not using a blinker. He wound up in jail as his son waited. He reflected, "When you are locked in a cage, you suddenly are no longer human."
This election's in 3 weeks! The nation's watching this race. We can replace a 30-year incumbent with a bold progressive!
More from the New York Times report:
Representative Eliot L. Engel, a New York Democrat who is facing a serious primary challenge this month and questions about his lack of presence in his district, arrived on Tuesday at a Bronx news conference about local vandalism with a determination to speak.
But shortly before the news conference began, Ruben Diaz Jr., the Bronx borough president and organizer of the event, ran through the list of planned speakers to the assembled politicians. The microphone was already broadcasting.
"I cannot have all the electeds talk because we will never get out of here," Mr. Diaz said.
Mr. Engel pressed his case for a turn. "If I didn’t have a primary, I wouldn’t care,” he said, repeating, “If I didn’t have a primary, I wouldn’t care."
His opposition began to consolidate this week as one of his leading rivals, Andom Ghebreghiorgis, dropped out and endorsed Jamaal Bowman, a Bronx school principal.
The same day, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee announced its endorsement of Mr. Bowman, who has the support of several local progressive leaders, as well as the Working Families Party and Justice Democrats, a group that supports insurgent progressives.
Chip in $10 or what you can to Jamaal Bowman's campaign right now.
Jamaal founded the highest-ranked middle school in New York for improving students’ test scores. He grew up with a single mother in public housing and gives voice to America’s families who struggle with an emergency of high rent, high debt, and high healthcare costs. Unlike Engel, he supports Medicare For All and a Green New Deal.
In addition to not living in the community, Eliot Engel has taken more money from weapons manufacturers than 144 House Republicans -- the same manufacturers that benefit from militarizing local police. Engel's funded by corporate interests and is a hawk who opposed President Obama's Iran Deal, like Donald Trump.
Because Engel is so bad, a second progressive was also running against him in New York's 16th Congressional District. Today, Andom Ghebreghiorgis dropped out and endorsed Jamaal! He’s also endorsed by the Working Families Party, Justice Democrats, Zephyr Teachout, and Diane Ravitch.
We need people who have the real, lived experience of working people to be the ones making our laws and holding the powerful accountable.
Jamaal is rising in the polls, and a victory on June 23 would be seen nationally as a victory for justice! AOC made history in a district next door.
Chip in today to help Jamaal win!
Thanks for being a bold progressive.
-- The PCCC Elections Team
Donate today to help Jamaal Bowman win!
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PCCC co-founder Stephanie Taylor's first picture book, I Can Change Everything, teaches kids the power of their imaginations — from changing their socks and shoes to changing the world. Buy it (or any other book) from Powell's using this link, and a portion of your purchase will fund PCCC's organizing! |
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