Dear Sanders campaign: It’s great having ads where Bernie talks about ending institutional racism, etc. But that does not distinguish him from Hillary, who says similar things on the campaign trail.
You need to show how Bernie walks the walk on civil rights, not just talks the talk.
I know of no more powerful way to do this than featuring the video of Bernie’s arrest in 1963, protesting segregation in the Chicago Public Schools
You could use the footage of his arrest (about 0:05–0:15), plus the newspaper clipping documenting it (shown at 0:25–0:37) and the side-by-side photos of Bernie leading the sit-in to protest segregated housing at the University of Chicago in 1962 and the arrest in 1963 (0:43 in the video).
Not using this priceless, viscerally compelling footage strikes me as campaign malpractice when Bernie is still trailing badly among African-Americans in South Carolina. People there need to know who Bernie really is and that he has been walking the walk on civil rights for over 50 years!
I believe this video could do for Bernie in South Carolina (and other states with large African-American populations) what De Blasio’s ad with his son did for him in NYC — but only if it goes up NOW and has a chance to sink in.
Of course the Clinton campaign will dispute the accuracy of the footage and that’s GOOD: it will lead to more discussion of it — and the important fact that Bernie was arrested protesting against segregation (while Hillary was a Goldwater Girl) is not in doubt!!
Dear Kossack Berniacs: Please recommend this diary so that it comes to the attention of the Sanders campaign. I have to run to a meeting now but will check in as soon as I’m back at my desk.