Sen. Bernie Sanders made a trip to the Apollo Theater in Harlem to pay tribute to Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett and the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., but along the way slammed President Donald Trump as a racist.
The Democratic presidential contender was at the Jazz Foundation鈥檚 鈥淎 Great Night in Harlem鈥� annual gala where Belafonte and Bennett were honoured on Thursday night. Both worked with King, and the evening marked the 51st anniversary of King鈥檚 slaying in Memphis, Tennessee, during a visit to rally sanitation works on strike.
鈥淭his is also a night that we remember the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and one of the great leaders in American history who died, as we鈥檒l never forget helping sanitation workers get some dignity in their lives,鈥� Sanders told The Associated Press in an interview before the event.
Sanders recounted the great strides King made toward racial harmony, but said that tolerance has lost step over the past couple of years, and put the blame at the feet of President Donald Trump.
鈥淲e have a president, and I say this without any joy in my heart, who is a racist. It鈥檚 hard to believe that we have a president of the United States who is, in fact, a racist,鈥� Sanders said.
A request for comment from the White House was not immediately returned.
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Sanders says eradicating racism is a high priority if he were to be elected president.
鈥淎s president of the United States, what I would be doing is bringing our people together to create a nation that works for all of us, and not just the 1%. To deal with the racism and the disparities that exists, not only between the rich and the poor, but between whites and blacks,鈥� Sanders said
Sanders was a contender in the 2016 race, where he lost the bid for the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton. But 2020 already shows a crowded field that includes Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Rep. Beto O鈥橰ourke, Sen. Corey Booker, Sen. Kamila Harris, and at least a dozen more.
Sanders calls them, 鈥渟ome really good people,鈥� and said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not going to hear me disparaging some of my Democratic opponents. They鈥檙e friends of mine and they鈥檙e good people. 鈥�
Before going inside, the 77-year old Sanders joked about maintaining his stamina for an election.
鈥淲ell when you have 28 years of age, you know, it ain鈥檛 hard,鈥� Sanders said.
John Carucci, The Associated Press
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