Bernie 2016

"Better Possibilities" +

:30 TV ad run in IL, from March 10, 2016.

[Music]

Troy LaRaviere:  In Chicago, we have endured a corrupt political system.

And the chief politician standing in the way of us getting good schools is our mayor.

If you have a presidential candidate that supports someone like our mayor, you have a candidate who's not willing to take on the establishment.

Bernie Sanders is definitely not afraid to take on the system. 

He looks beyond that system and sees better possibilities for us.

He sees that this is not the way it has to be.  That is why I support Bernie Sanders.

Sanders (voiceover):  I'm Bernie Sanders, and I approve this message. 


Notes:  This ad edges into local politics with its criticism of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, although he is not mentioned by name.

The March 10 press release...

New Sanders TV Ads: We Need Real Political Change in Chicago and America 

CHICAGO – Bernie Sanders’ campaign released three new 30-second television commercial in Illinois on Friday. One features Cook County Commissioner Jesús (Chuy) García, a recent candidate for mayor. Another ad features Troy LaRaviere, a Chicago public schools principal. The ads call for major political changes in Chicago.

“People in this community badly want and need a fair shot,” the commissioner says. “For too long, politicians haven’t quite stood up for them. Bernie Sanders is about giving everyone an opportunity to do better. This is a year for transformative change. If you are beholden to bad money, you will not be a transformative leader.”

In the second ad, the principal says, “In Chicago, we have endured a corrupt political system. And the chief politician standing in the way of us getting good schools is our mayor. If you have a presidential candidate that supports someone like our mayor, you have a candidate who is not willing to take on the establishment,” says LaRaviere. “Bernie Sanders is definitely not afraid to take on the system. He looks beyond that system and sees better possibilities for us. He sees that this is not the way it has to be.”

In December, Sanders called for "any official who helped suppress the videotape of Laquan McDonald's murder [to] be held accountable." As a candidate, Sanders has made criminal justice reform a key issue in his campaign.

As a college student at the University of Chicago, Sanders was a leader of the Congress for Racial Equality. In 1963, he was arrested while participating in protests to desegregate public schools in Chicago. "The fight against injustice and inequality has been the work of his life," the narrator says in the third ad entitled "Work of His Life."

To watch the ad featuring Commissioner Garcia in Spanish and English, click here and here.
To watch the ad featuring Principal LaRaviere, click here.
To watch the ad entitled "Work of His Life," click here.


and this from April 21, 2016...

Sanders Statement on Principal LaRaviere

READING, Pa. – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday released the following statement after Chicago Principal Troy LaRaviere was “removed” from his post at Blaine Elementary School by the Chicago Board of Education:

“It is absolutely unacceptable that a school principal is facing politically-motivated retaliation because he dared to stand up to the mayor of Chicago. Principal LaRaviere, who won three straight principal merit awards handed out by the mayor, is getting results for the students at Blaine Elementary. The only explanation for his removal appears to be Mayor Emanuel’s unhealthy obsession with taking revenge.

“If we are going to build an economy that works for all, we cannot sit back and watch as workers face retaliation from bosses. I condemn Principal LaRaviere’s reassignment and call on Democrats around the country to stand up against Mayor Emanuel’s pettiness.”