Al Sharpton in Al on America
On Crime:
It’s no coincidence that the wealthy don’t get executed
In 2000, Shaka Sankofa asked for me [and 3 others] to attend his execution in Texas. Lying down on a gurney, handcuffed, he repeated, “I did not kill [the man I was convicted for murdering]. Keep marching, Black people. They are murdering me tonight.”
While he’s talking, they inject him with the lethal potion and his head jerks back, and minutes later, he’s dead. I walked out after that in a daze. After the execution, George W. Bush, then governor of Texas, stood before the cameras and said, “This was
a great day for justice.“ Justice? How do we celebrate killing people? All I kept hearing in my head was, ”Reverend Sharpton, keep marching.“ It’s no coincidence that the wealthy don’t get executed in this country. There have been wealthy individuals
who have committed more horrendous crimes than Sankofa and we don’t take their lives. I’m running for president for people like Shaka Sankofa and others who have no rights or resources to save their lives and who have no one to speak for them.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 11-15
Jan 1, 2002
On Drugs:
Something wrong with mandatory time for drug users
The priority [in the War on Drugs] seems to be to lock up the low-level guys, many under federal mandatory drug sentencing laws who are caught with a small quantity of crack. Now, I don’t condone the actions of that guy,
but why should he spend a minimum of 5 to 10 years in jail for a small quantity of crack the size of a “Sweet ‘N Low” packet, while the drug lord doesn’t face any mandatory time? There’s something wrong with that picture.
The war on drugs must be fought at a higher level. We have to use trade leverage to go after the countries that produce the drugs-who openly allow drugs to be in their economy-and put them out of business.
Perhaps the reason why the US doesn’t go
after the real drug lords and the real drug producers and sellers is because it would be bad business on both ends. We make money with the countries that produce the drugs, and we make money by sending the low-level drug criminal to jail for a long time.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 130-31
Jan 1, 2002
On Crime:
Focus on prevention instead of Three Strikes
I am opposed to the three-strikes-and-you’re-out law. Instead of setting up a multi-tiered way to permanently incarcerate people, we ought to be setting up programs that will prevent people from becoming repeat offenders. What the Crime Bill of the
Clinton Administration did was spend more money to penalize and incarcerate people than no having things like afterschool and tutorial programs that would prevent young people from becoming repeat offenders. They don’t give any alternative to crime.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 131-32
Jan 1, 2002
On Homeland Security:
Military increases have nothing to do with terrorism
The military budget has increased by 30% in 2002. Most of the expenses had nothing to do with terrorism but were things they were trying to push through for years. Bush has called for even more money to be pumped into the military,
but the majority of that money will never see its way down to the soldiers; it will not dramatically increase their pay and benefits or protect them. Meanwhile, schools, Social Security, and other domestic needs are getting a budget cut.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 34
Jan 1, 2002
On Foreign Policy:
We deal with China, so let’s deal with Cuba
If the reason for continuing the embargo is because Cuba is still a Communist regime, then how does America explain its relationship with North Korea, and China? We talk about human rights violations-of which I personally saw none [when visiting Cuba].
Yet we can dialogue with China and all of her blatant human right violations. We have continued to demonize Castro at the expense of good, sound foreign policy. I clearly think it’s wrong.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 70-71
Jan 1, 2002
On Immigration:
Immigration system is archaic & biased against Latinos
Our whole set of immigration laws seems to be biased and archaic. They need to be reviewed and made more humane. I think we need to sit down and have a respectful relationship with Mexico where we deal with them as a partner.
Clearly, Mexicans are treated in a discriminatory manner by this country. We close the borders but allow a few to come here illegally, and turn our heads as long as they agree to be slaves or the closest thing to a slave that you can be.
But don’t let them come here with any self-respect or ambition. If they agree to wash the dishes in our restaurants or clean our homes or watch our children for the lowest wages imaginable, off the books, then welcome to America.
That isn’t a foreign policy that will ever work for long. It’s time to negotiate real deals with Mexico that benefit both us and them.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 72-73
Jan 1, 2002
On Civil Rights:
Let gays and lesbians adopt
I believe that gays and lesbians deserve to have the same rights as homosexuals. I believe that sexual orientation should not be an impediment in the workplace, in the housing marketplace, or in the adoption market. Just as I would fight for a black or
Latino not to be discriminated against, I would fight equally for the rights of gays. I believe that gays and lesbians should have the right to adopt. Sexual orientation in no way matters when it comes to parenting-all children need is love.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 88
Jan 1, 2002
On Civil Rights:
Supports gay rights-let people choose to sin or not
My religion does not support homosexuality, but I do. I was asked why I was supporting and marching with the homosexuals in parades, when according to the church, homosexuality is a sin. I responded that God gave people free will. God gave people the
right to choose-even to choose sin. That’s why there is a heaven and a hell. So I will fight for people to have the right to go to hell if that’s what they choose. I’m not here to judge. I was placed here to fight for justice for all people.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 88-89
Jan 1, 2002
On Abortion:
Abortion is wrong, but let women choose
My religion says that abortion is wrong. And while I may believe that life begins when the sperm meets the egg, and that only God should decide whether to take a life, I will not stand in the way of a woman’s right to choose.
If women do not have a right to choose, then it’s a civil rights violation.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 89
Jan 1, 2002
On Abortion:
His Supreme Court nominees will allow right to choose
I would only appoint justices to the Supreme Court who are for women having the right to choose whether or not they will have an abortion.
Now, I can believe something without having to impose my beliefs on others. That’s true separation of church and state.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 89
Jan 1, 2002
On Education:
Supports school prayer, but don’t impose it
As a minister I am for school prayer , but I am not for imposing prayer no schoolchildren. I believe that just as children are not forced to pray, they should not b forced from praying, if that’s what they want to do. There should be a moment of
silence to begin each school day, when children can either say a silent prayer, meditate, or do nothing. That’s not unconstitutional in my opinion. But to ban prayer from school is not only immoral, it is as wrong as forcing school prayer.
Source: Al On America, by Rev. Al Sharpton, p. 89
Jan 1, 2002
Page last updated: Dec 12, 2018