Sanders reaches out to black voters in South Carolina

by Elliot Smilowitz - 08/22/15 7:47 AM ET

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) lamented the recent racial unrest in America as he sought to make inroads with southern voters at a rally in Columbia, S.C., on Friday.

“The bad news is that racism still remains a much too real part of American life,” the Democratic presidential candidate told a crowd of about 2,700 people at the Medallion Center ballroom, according to The State.

He noted the June shooting that killed nine at a historic black church in nearby Charleston, as well as a spate of police violence against blacks.

{mosads}”There is no one who will fight harder not only to end institutional racism, but to make fundamental changes in our broken criminal justice system,” Sanders said, according to the Associated Press.

The senator called for police officers to build closer relationships with the community.

“Most police officers are honest and trying to do their best,” he said. “But as in the case with any other public official, when a police officer breaks the law, that officer must be held accountable.”

Sanders is hoping to build momentum in South Carolina, the first Southern presidential primary state and the first with a large number of black voters.

Sanders has seen some recent issues with black activists. Twice this summer, he has had speeches interrupted by protesters affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement.

He tweeted earlier this week that he will seek a meeting with prominent leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement. He also intends to meet privately with black leaders during his trip to South Carolina.

“The senator realizes that racial inequality and economic inequality are parallel issues that must be addressed simultaneously, and I think he wants to make that clear,” a campaign spokeswoman said.

While Sanders has a solid second place in the national race for the Democratic presidential nomination with 25 percent support, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average, he has only nine percent support in South Carolina.

Tags Bernie Sanders