Pete Buttigieg Meets With Al Sharpton in New York

Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg met Monday with the Rev. Al Sharpton, as the Indiana mayor faces scrutiny of his record on race and is stepping up his outreach to African Americans.

Buttigieg and the civil rights leader met for lunch in Harlem at Sylvia's Restaurant, a cornerstone of black American culture where Sharpton has long brokered difficult racial conversations with embattled political leaders.

Buttigieg said Sharpton suggested the meeting, which he says occurred as his campaign is "working to broaden our coalition."

"I've talked a lot about generational change and generational politics, and one of the things I know I needed to do is to be in touch with every generation in the struggle for equality," Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg said Sharpton wanted to know about his experience as mayor of South Bend and some of his most challenging times as mayor.

"It's been complex, and it's really formed me in terms of my understanding of race, politics, policy and community," Buttigieg said.

The 37-year-old veteran and Rhodes Scholar has gained in popularity since joining the 2020 race earlier this year.

Along with the increased name recognition have come questions about his record in South Bend, where shortly after taking office Buttigieg fired the city's first black police chief, and about issues of housing and inequality in the city.

Buttigieg said racial justice and equality are important to him, and an important part of South Bend's story.

"One thing I learned early in is having good intentions is not enough and that things don't look the same depending on your life experience. Policing to economic inclusion, just because you're trying generically to take care of everybody, doesn't mean that support will reach everybody in the same way," he said.

"There are too many structural — and in many cases, intentionally built — barriers to that. If you're not equally intentional about tearing down those barriers, you're gonna come up short. Our community held me accountable on that, they really educated me on that."

Buttigieg spent more than an hour at the restaurant, where he ate fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and collard greens before shaking hands with customers.

Earlier this month, Buttigieg was among several Democratic presidential candidates who attended Sharpton's National Action Network conference in New York, where he was asked to explain his use of the phrase "all lives matter" in the early days of the Black Lives Matter movement. The mayor said he meant to show solidarity with the movement but stopped using the phrase when he realized it was antagonistic.

Buttigieg has also said he's "learned some hard lessons" as mayor, including on race, and that "any white candidate needs to show a level of consciousness around issues like white privilege."

He plans to focus on black voters during a visit to South Carolina next month that includes a stop at a historically black university.

Sharpton sat down with another 2020 Democratic hopeful, California Sen. Kamala Harris, in February amid criticism of her record as a prosecutor.

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[firepower]

Anyone, and I mean anyone that meets with Al Sharpton during ANY political campaign immediately looses all credibility.

[Chris-yypj]

Officially lost my vote for good being with this racist

[HumanBeing-zyuf]

You bowed and kissed his ring.... you have lost my respect, and potentially any consideration from me for your candidacy.

[leenaright]

Exactly what is this supposed to say about Peter ?
How about making amends for the housing project you left in shambles ?

[borood]

A homosexual named Buttgig? LMAO! That is too funny.

[mario]

Now... That is real in-depth journalism. I am glad I watched it.
Peter The Buttgig, and All the Reverend Sharpton.
Now there are two public figures you can count and depend on.
They have done so much for this country. So much! I feel diminished before them.

[letsgobrandon]

Why is this foolish Democrat walking with a racist lawyer ? Does he understand who that man is he's walking with ?😂

[theengineer]

Fake photo op. Pete is Damian Thorn to the Black-community. He is as healthy as Flint, MI water. His comments can be seen over and his over. He fired a police chief to protect racist cops. I am sure the black community thanks him for that one. He plays coy and smirks at blacks suffering. All the while enjoying his pro white alma mater, his role in the military to shoot brown people in Afghanistan, etc. and America thinks this is needed to run a city with Blacks? That is as useful as him performing brain surgery.

Tulsi went to war. She is a warrior; however, as she displays strength and fortitude, her compassion so far reaching. Her maturity and wisdom shows no limits. She wants to prevent wars, she knows suffering as a woman of color and is strong enough to stand her ground based on her convictions. Pete is a weasel; he hides behind sly words and plays coy. He smirks at others suffering. I still recall him saying to a black woman that he doesn’t want her vote. That is likely the most honest answer he has ever given because we all know PETE IS A LYING MF!!

[malfunctioningeddie]

Pete need to tighten up! Nobody listen to black activist anymore. Why is this trending

[satixaxr]

Pete.... be a centrist . Distance yourself from radicals

[craigbigelow]

You say God. I say say 10!
Say say 10! 10, 10!

[joshuarich]

Peter and Butt in his name and he is gay....damn i need to ask his parents to pick some Powerball Numbers for me....

[PoppenReportShow]

Pete Buttigieg will rise and be a superhero compared to a Villain like Old Man Sanders, who accepted buyout cash in 2016 from Hillary Clinton to quit.

[rickmancino]

That Peter Butt Edge Edge better keep his Peter away from my Butt Edge Edge.

[Kennystee]

Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.