Social justice activist Shaun King is making headlines for not the best reasons…once again.
He appears to be flip-flopping on his views of Senator Kamala Harris after saying he’d never support her in 2018 and then praising her on Twitter yesterday when she became the Vice Presidential nominee.
“I’ll be frank and tell you, two Democrats that I am 99% sure I won’t be supporting – primarily because of their dismal history on criminal justice reform over the course of their entire careers,” Shaun said on Twitter in November 2018. “Joe Biden & Kamala Harris. They both helped build & advance mass incarceration.”
A Shaun King story. pic.twitter.com/Ooxd3mVOD2
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) August 12, 2020
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But yesterday he was singing a different tune when Joe Biden announced Harris would be his running mate.
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Shaun tweeted Tuesday, “That’s it for me. I am incredibly proud to see a brilliant Black woman, and HBCU grad, chosen as a Vice Presidential nominee.
“I’ve done political work my whole life. It’s rarely things dreams are made of. Kamala Harris is the most progressive VP nominee in American history.”
Shaun King’s name was then trending on Twitter, showing side by side screenshots of his conflicting tweets.
I share most criticisms of Kamala’s record as DA and Attorney General.
But as Senator her growth on issues of justice, mass incarceration, police accountability, decriminalization/legalization of marijuana, the end of qualified immunity and more seem very real to me.
Period.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) August 12, 2020
He later addressed it on Wednesday, tweeting, “In 2018, I said I did not plan on endorsing either Joe Biden or Kamala Harris IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.
“I endorsed Bernie. I’ve been a strong critic of Biden & Harris on issues of justice. She has grown and evolved on policing & justice. Especially this summer.”
Pretty much.
I can only speak for myself, but when I harshly critique leaders, it’s with the hope that they will grow and evolve.
Kamala has done so, in very specific ways, on issues of justice.
I’ll remain a critic. But I’m nothing but glad to see the growth. Is what it is. https://t.co/vS57O9jgeO
— Shaun King (@shaunking) August 12, 2020