| By Cornel West 2024 Campaign
Photos: Cornel West 2024 Campaign\YouTube Screenshots [Newington, Virginia] – In the wake of the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump, Dr. Cornel West’s presidential campaign has formally requested Secret Service protection. This plea underscores the urgent need for equitable safety measures for all presidential candidates, regardless of their political affiliations or the criticisms they may voice.
Dr. West has consistently voiced critical opinions on U.S. policies, especially those concerning Israel and Zionist ideologies, setting him apart from other prominent candidates like former President Donald J. Trump, President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These positions have subjected Dr. West to intense scrutiny and hostile portrayals by some media outlets, emphasizing the need for consistent and unbiased protection. In compliance with procedural guidelines provided by the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, Dr. West’s campaign has approached Congresswoman Katie Porter, Dr. West’s local congressional representative. This step ensures that the request is submitted through the proper legislative channels, a standard protocol to guarantee formal and correct handling of such significant matters. “While we follow the required processes, we also directly urge President Biden to uphold the principles of democracy and fairness in the distribution of Secret Service protection,” stated Edwin DeJesus, spokesperson for Dr. West’s campaign. “It is imperative that all presidential candidates receive equal treatment under the law, ensuring their safety as they engage with the public on critical national issues.” The campaign stresses that the protection of presidential candidates should transcend partisanship, focusing on the integrity of the electoral process and the democratic rights of candidates to openly discuss sensitive and diverse topics. “We call upon President Biden and the relevant authorities to act now in addressing this significant disparity and affirm their commitment to the safety and security of all candidates, which is foundational to a free and fair electoral process,” added DeJesus. To date, the West/Abdullah campaign has secured ballot access in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado, South Carolina, Utah, Oregon, Alaska, and Vermont, pending finalization of certification in certain states. |
About Dr. Cornel West Dr. West, affectionately known to many as Brother West, is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary. Dr. West is the former University Professor at Harvard University, Professor Emeritus at Princeton University and the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. In Philosophy from Princeton University. He has written 20 books and he is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and for his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. He delivered the historic Gifford lectures at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in Spring 2024. Dr. West enters the 2024 Presidential contest at a time in which he describes a national crisis of moral bankruptcy and spiritual obscenity driven by a derelict duopoly of both major parties that equally places profits over people and the planet. West asserts that running as an Independent candidate affords him the opportunity and duty to deliver policy prescriptions incorporated by and for the people, instead of political parties beholden to corporations and special interest groups who feel no solidarity with poor and working-class people of all races, gender identities, and age groups. The Cornel West Campaign to empower poor and working people everywhere stands at a pivotal moment in history, committed to being a true campaign for people around the globe. Our aim is and will always be to unite in solidarity with movements of truth and justice, who seek a choice beyond empire, white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, and the confines of the corporate-dominated two-party system.
About Dr. Melina Abdullah Melina Abdullah is Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA’s College of Ethnic Studies, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter – Los Ángeles and Black Lives Matter Grassroots, where she is also Director. She is a leader in the California Faculty Association (the faculty union), both locally and statewide, and mama of three. Dr. Abdullah earned her Ph.D. from University of Southern California in Political Science and her B.A. from Howard University in African American Studies. Abdullah has authored numerous articles and book chapters. Known by the moniker, Doc Melly Mel, she is creator, host, and producer of the radio programs Move the Crowd on KPFK 90.7 FM and This Is Not a Drill! on KBLA Talk 1580, and is a recognized expert on race, gender, class, and social movements. In April 2024, Abdullah was announced as vice-presidential pick for Dr. Cornel West in his run for president of the United States on a platform of “Truth, Justice, and Love.” She is the first Muslim to run for the vice-presidency.
Learn more about Cornel West at CornelWest2024.com. Learn more about Dr. West’s Policy Pillars at CornelWest2024.com/Platform. For more details and press inquiries, please contact [email protected]. |
