Black Lives Matter pushes back against local group’s GOP endorsement
The national Black Lives Matter network is pushing back against an Ohio group that has endorsed incumbent Republican Sen. Rob Portman, Politico reported Friday.
Black Lives Matter of Cuyahoga County (BLMCC), which is not affiliated with the national organization, lauded Portman and harshly criticized Democrat Ted Strickland, Portman’s Senate opponent and a former Ohio governor — an unusual move in a political climate where racial justice activists have seldom supported Republicans.
{mosads}But the co-founder of the National Black Lives Matter network Patrisse Cullors said that the Cuyahoga group is “not an official chapter of our BLM network.” Black Lives Matter also added that the official chapter of the network in Ohio has not endorsed Portman.
{mosads}The Cuyahoga County group’s president Jeff Mixon praised Portman’s work to fight opioid abuse and slammed Strickland’s “gross financial mismanagement.”
“In the current atmosphere of identity politics, BLMCC understands that endorsing even a well-qualified Republican such as Portman seems controversial; despite the fact that it was minorities who suffered the brunt of Ted Strickland’s gross financial mismanagement,” he said.
“Ted Strickland devoted little time to the cause of helping — rather than punishing — addicts,” Mixon added.
He also said minorities need to consider voting for different parties if they do not see adequate changes within their communities.
“One thing that we at BLMCC feel confident about is this: the definition of ‘rational’ is not doing the same thing over and over — with little or no thought — expecting a different result,” Mixon said.
“At some point, minority communities must carefully examine the impact of relying solely on the Democratic Sample Ballot on Election Day.”
Strickland’s campaign pointed was quick to point out that Mixon’s group does not represent the larger Black Lives Matter movement.
“Ted has a strong record of fighting for Ohio’s African American communities and working families, and will continue to do so in the Senate,” said Strickland communications director David Bergstein.
Portman was endorsed by Ohio’s Fraternal Order of Police earlier in the week. He has a slight lead in polls over Strickland.
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