“I am a son of Baltimore.”
February 4, 2016 3:40 PM Subscribe
Prominent Black Lives Matter member DeRay McKesson has announced that he is entering the Baltimore Democratic Mayoral Primary; McKesson is the 13th candidate to enter the race. The Baltimore Sun has the story, along with follow-up coverage of how the news is being received. The story is also being reported in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Root, and Slate.
Remember when Bill DeBlasio had the temerity to tell the press he has had "the talk" with his son and the NYPD basically threw a tantrum? I CAN'T WAIT to see what happens if DeRay manages to get through the primary. The BPD's tantrum is going to be roughly a jillion times more petulant.
posted by GamblingBlues at 3:51 PM on February 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by GamblingBlues at 3:51 PM on February 4, 2016 [12 favorites]
Remember when Bill DeBlasio had the temerity to tell the press he has had "the talk" with his son and the NYPD basically threw a tantrum?
DeBlasio has had huge problems with NYPD ever since then.
I hope DeRay wins. He is wonderful.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:02 PM on February 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
DeBlasio has had huge problems with NYPD ever since then.
I hope DeRay wins. He is wonderful.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:02 PM on February 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yes, this is great news, but wow he held off to the last minute. I have a feeling that all of this national coverage will take care of advertising. At least for the moment.
posted by Benway at 4:04 PM on February 4, 2016
posted by Benway at 4:04 PM on February 4, 2016
Key quote for me was from the Sun
Mckesson is likely not well-known among the older African-American women who have long decided Baltimore's elections.
posted by timdiggerm at 4:08 PM on February 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Mckesson is likely not well-known among the older African-American women who have long decided Baltimore's elections.
posted by timdiggerm at 4:08 PM on February 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
This is going to be a fascinating campaign, and given the crowded field, DeRay may have a better shot than he would otherwise (especially since he's likely to galvanize younger voters, who are statistically less likely to vote).
He has crowdfunded an impressive amount for his campaign in just 24 hours. I suspect that will be used in attacks against him ("his campaign is funded by outsiders," etc).
posted by duffell at 4:12 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
He has crowdfunded an impressive amount for his campaign in just 24 hours. I suspect that will be used in attacks against him ("his campaign is funded by outsiders," etc).
posted by duffell at 4:12 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is great news! He's one of my favorite people I follow on twitter.
posted by triggerfinger at 4:26 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by triggerfinger at 4:26 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is the only way that systemic change will happen: if the current generation of activists get into office. And the best way those of us who are maybe struggling with how we can engage with the current activism can help is by getting these people elected.
I think a lot of people get hung up on the feeling that our actions are either not helpful, or, worse, because of our position in the majority, actively harmful.
Well, here's a direct action. Get neck-deep in local elections and help get people like DeRay McKesson elected. You swing a hell of a lot more direct power as a local voter than you do as a national voter, and, as we've seen with the right-wing takeover at all levels of government, this shit matters tremendously.
The future is happening right now in local elections: get into yours as a candidate, or staff, or a volunteer. It matters tremendously, and you wield a lot more power than you might think.
posted by scrump at 4:29 PM on February 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
I think a lot of people get hung up on the feeling that our actions are either not helpful, or, worse, because of our position in the majority, actively harmful.
Well, here's a direct action. Get neck-deep in local elections and help get people like DeRay McKesson elected. You swing a hell of a lot more direct power as a local voter than you do as a national voter, and, as we've seen with the right-wing takeover at all levels of government, this shit matters tremendously.
The future is happening right now in local elections: get into yours as a candidate, or staff, or a volunteer. It matters tremendously, and you wield a lot more power than you might think.
posted by scrump at 4:29 PM on February 4, 2016 [30 favorites]
Gonna throw in a little extra for DeRay's vest. That garment is a trooper.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 4:35 PM on February 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 4:35 PM on February 4, 2016 [6 favorites]
Great. The debate over policing tactics and crime is a hypothesis that his election could provide evidence for (or against)
posted by jpe at 4:52 PM on February 4, 2016
posted by jpe at 4:52 PM on February 4, 2016
(And he's a TFA alum, so I wonder what his position on charter schools is)
posted by jpe at 4:56 PM on February 4, 2016
posted by jpe at 4:56 PM on February 4, 2016
His Twitter stream suggests he is generally for charter schools.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 5:06 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Elementary Penguin at 5:06 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
His Twitter stream suggests he is generally for charter schools.
That's interesting. I've been following him for a while now and I've never picked up on it! Has he said something specifically that points to support for the charter school system?
posted by duffell at 5:08 PM on February 4, 2016
That's interesting. I've been following him for a while now and I've never picked up on it! Has he said something specifically that points to support for the charter school system?
posted by duffell at 5:08 PM on February 4, 2016
That's interesting. I've been following him for a while now and I've never picked up on it! Has he said something specifically that points to support for the charter school system?
I was also curious so I poked around a bit and it looks like this is a tweet some people are pointing to on that point.
posted by Copronymus at 5:18 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ah, thank you!
Also found a couple of tweets (1, 2) where he suggests there is some complexity to education policy beyond "are you for or against this thing." Nothing I'd call a ringing endorsement of charter schools, thankfully!
posted by duffell at 5:25 PM on February 4, 2016
Also found a couple of tweets (1, 2) where he suggests there is some complexity to education policy beyond "are you for or against this thing." Nothing I'd call a ringing endorsement of charter schools, thankfully!
posted by duffell at 5:25 PM on February 4, 2016
Baltimore’s cast of characters for the 2016 election has been locked into place
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:31 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:31 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mckesson (no intercap) is the first candidate in this race who's piqued my interest. I'm looking forward to watching him shake things up.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:49 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:49 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've seen some skepticism of this move among BLM-adjacent folks I follow on the Tweeter. Basically this seems like it might be a case of someone potentially mistaking the goals of the movement with their own personal career goals. But maybe that's just hating on his success?
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:59 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:59 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'd be interesting to see BLM disrupting a McKesson rally.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:01 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:01 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Definitely seeing some love and some skepticism out there, both seemingly in good faith, but I'm also seeing more than a few claims that "activists never seek political office," which is just... not even remotely accurate?
posted by duffell at 6:02 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by duffell at 6:02 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think that being affiliated with Teach For America is going to be a problem for him. There are a lot of teachers, a lot of them really hate TFA, and they're likely to vote in primaries.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:03 PM on February 4, 2016
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:03 PM on February 4, 2016
Also found a couple of tweets (1, 2) where he suggests there is some complexity to education policy beyond "are you for or against this thing." Nothing I'd call a ringing endorsement of charter schools, thankfully!
That's an odd interpretation of those two tweets. In the first one, McKesson is replying to someone saying that she is imposing the worst interpretation of charter schools. In the second, he claims that charters schools aren't anti-union because the ones in Baltimore are unionized. However, Gov. Logan is trying to push legislation which would allow Maryland charter schools to hire non-union teachers.
The second tweet is either disingenuous about the way charter schools were developed as a policy weapon against teacher's unions or dangerously naive.
posted by ennui.bz at 6:40 PM on February 4, 2016
That's an odd interpretation of those two tweets. In the first one, McKesson is replying to someone saying that she is imposing the worst interpretation of charter schools. In the second, he claims that charters schools aren't anti-union because the ones in Baltimore are unionized. However, Gov. Logan is trying to push legislation which would allow Maryland charter schools to hire non-union teachers.
The second tweet is either disingenuous about the way charter schools were developed as a policy weapon against teacher's unions or dangerously naive.
posted by ennui.bz at 6:40 PM on February 4, 2016
For those of you who don't follow Baltimore politics. The frontrunner is Sheila Dixon, former mayor, who was convicted of embezzlement in her previous term as mayor. Carl Stokes is the model for 'Tony Gray' in "The Wire," who split the black vote so that Littlefinger could become mayor and future failed presidential candidate. Mosby is the husband of the prosecutor responsible for bringing the police responsible for death of Freddie Gray to trial. State Sen Pugh, in second behind Dixon, is a long-time "machine" politician with close ties to MD political elite.
Traditionally, the Democratic primary is the de facto election for Mayor in Baltimore since the Republican party is practically non-existent in city politics.
posted by ennui.bz at 6:56 PM on February 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
Traditionally, the Democratic primary is the de facto election for Mayor in Baltimore since the Republican party is practically non-existent in city politics.
posted by ennui.bz at 6:56 PM on February 4, 2016 [5 favorites]
“We will win.”
A bold stance for a candidate to talk.
posted by Going To Maine at 8:48 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
A bold stance for a candidate to talk.
posted by Going To Maine at 8:48 PM on February 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Activists and running for public office is a hard thing, in part because running for public office requires that you change yourself, and by the end of the game you've often caught the political bug. Look at John Kerry - once a passionate peace activist who threw his medals back over the fence at the White House lawn. Where is that activism left in the man? Speak his name around any of his former activist comrades at VVAW and they spit. Once he started running for office, he left the movement.
And I feel in many ways like its the age old trap that sucks in the most committed, and gives them a stake in the system so they are no longer motivated to tear it down.
posted by corb at 8:51 PM on February 4, 2016
And I feel in many ways like its the age old trap that sucks in the most committed, and gives them a stake in the system so they are no longer motivated to tear it down.
posted by corb at 8:51 PM on February 4, 2016
Where is that activism left in the man?
Well, he’s worked pretty hard on that Iran deal…
posted by Going To Maine at 8:55 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Well, he’s worked pretty hard on that Iran deal…
posted by Going To Maine at 8:55 PM on February 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Mayor Mckesson has a fabulous ring to it.
posted by sallybrown at 9:01 PM on February 4, 2016
posted by sallybrown at 9:01 PM on February 4, 2016
I don't know much about him, but his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was kind of awful. He had his phone out the whole damn time.
see it
posted by cman at 10:05 PM on February 4, 2016
see it
posted by cman at 10:05 PM on February 4, 2016
I have respect for a lot of what he has done but I have no love for his support of TFA and education "reform."
posted by Slimemonster at 11:13 PM on February 4, 2016
posted by Slimemonster at 11:13 PM on February 4, 2016
FYI: He tweets "we will win" a lot. It's about the movement/struggle not the mayoral campaign.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:28 PM on February 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 11:28 PM on February 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've learned a lot about BLM by following Deray on Twitter, but damn if this Baltimore election isn't shaping up like a storyline from The Wire.
posted by slogger at 3:51 AM on February 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by slogger at 3:51 AM on February 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Baltimore politics is a total shitshow in every way. I wholeheartedly support DeRay in this race and it would be nice to have someone in power who could be sucked into the system rather then one who was sucked in long ago and is just moving up.
posted by josher71 at 6:46 AM on February 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by josher71 at 6:46 AM on February 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm really kind of dismayed at the joy this is getting. Much as I support BLM, Baltimore is in a really precarious position right now but with the number of council positions up for grabs as well as the mayoral election, there's real promise this election. Whatever else is true about Mckesson, he's not qualified to lead a city, much less a city with the kind of widespread, systemic challenges that Baltimore has.
Personally, I like Embry. She may be from a well-connected family, but she's worked in local and state government in various capacities, including as a prosecutor, in the New York Housing Department, and on both labor policy and criminal justice policy. Both she and her local scion of a father attended Baltimore public schools through high school, which is actually a big deal here. Embry also has one of the most comprehensive and specific public safety plans of any of the candidates.
posted by mchorn at 7:42 AM on February 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Personally, I like Embry. She may be from a well-connected family, but she's worked in local and state government in various capacities, including as a prosecutor, in the New York Housing Department, and on both labor policy and criminal justice policy. Both she and her local scion of a father attended Baltimore public schools through high school, which is actually a big deal here. Embry also has one of the most comprehensive and specific public safety plans of any of the candidates.
posted by mchorn at 7:42 AM on February 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
So here's the cliff's notes of the Baltimore mayor's race
posted by josher71 at 8:43 AM on February 5, 2016
posted by josher71 at 8:43 AM on February 5, 2016
A crowded field is probably good for former mayor and current candidate Sheila Dixon. I'm currently undecided on who's going to get my vote for mayor, but I can almost guarantee that Dixon gets elected when her opposition gets split 11 different ways. I'd probably be happy with Mosby, Warnock or Embry. Catherine Pugh might be ok too, I just can't bring myself to vote for Sheila.
I'd really like to see Councilman Brandon Scott run at some point, but I think he's smart to sit this one out.
posted by Ham Snadwich at 9:38 AM on February 5, 2016
I'd really like to see Councilman Brandon Scott run at some point, but I think he's smart to sit this one out.
posted by Ham Snadwich at 9:38 AM on February 5, 2016
BTW, this is almost exactly the same situation that elected Martin O'Malley in 1999, right down to Carl Stokes as one of the candidates.
posted by Ham Snadwich at 9:46 AM on February 5, 2016
posted by Ham Snadwich at 9:46 AM on February 5, 2016
Would he be the first gay POC mayor in the US?
posted by desjardins at 11:09 AM on February 5, 2016
posted by desjardins at 11:09 AM on February 5, 2016
I went and looked, but turns out Cambridge, MA elected Kenneth Reeves, a mayor who was both openly gay and black, in 1992. His current successor was the first openly lesbian black mayor elected in the US when she was elected in 2008.
posted by sciatrix at 11:17 AM on February 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by sciatrix at 11:17 AM on February 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
The mayor of Cambridge is elected each term by the freshly-inaugurated City Councilors among themselves; I do wonder if a city's electorate has yet voted a queer POC mayor into office.
posted by threeants at 6:17 PM on February 5, 2016
posted by threeants at 6:17 PM on February 5, 2016
After White House meeting, President Obama praises mayoral candidate DeRay Mckesson's 'outstanding work' in Baltimore
posted by homunculus at 5:08 PM on February 20, 2016
posted by homunculus at 5:08 PM on February 20, 2016
Why DeRay Mckesson's Baltimore Campaign Looks Like It Comes Right Out of Teach for America's Playbook: As Mckesson launches his outsider candidacy for mayor of Baltimore, many worry his roots in the education privatization movement put the city’s public schools in peril.
posted by homunculus at 5:09 PM on February 20, 2016
posted by homunculus at 5:09 PM on February 20, 2016
Why DeRay Mckesson's Baltimore Campaign Looks Like It Comes Right Out of Teach for America's Playbook: As Mckesson launches his outsider candidacy for mayor of Baltimore, many worry his roots in the education privatization movement put the city’s public schools in peril.
tl;dr: DeRay is a TFA alum. Many of DeRay's friends are TFA alums. Therefore, DeRay is actively trying to dismantle public education from the inside out. 3000 words.
posted by duffell at 5:25 PM on February 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
tl;dr: DeRay is a TFA alum. Many of DeRay's friends are TFA alums. Therefore, DeRay is actively trying to dismantle public education from the inside out. 3000 words.
posted by duffell at 5:25 PM on February 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
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But this is great news, and a nice collection of links. Thank you!
posted by Navelgazer at 3:45 PM on February 4, 2016