NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Al Sharpton’s annual event honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. doubled as a platform for mayoral candidates to try to win over voters this year.
Every year, Al Sharpton hosts the event honoring the civil rights activist at his House of Justice and this year was no different.
“Dr. King was an activist. He changed public policy. He changed laws,” Sharpton said of the civil rights icon.
But this year had a multitude of mayoral candidates looking to win over voters by trying to link themselves to both Sharpton and Dr. King.
Among those who spoke at the event was Andrew Yang, the newest candidate to enter the New York City mayoral race, who noted that he has the endorsement of Martin Luther King III.
Yang also noted that his biggest platform, universal basic income, was an idea of Dr. King.
“That this is something that Martin Luther King championed,” Yang said. “It is what he was fighting for when he was assassinated: a guaranteed minimum income for all Americans.”
Former chair of the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board, Maya Wiley was also at the event pushing to continue to fight for police reforms.
“We will bring a sword justice that says, ‘We the people will tell you, police department, what your job is, how you do it, what the rules of the road is,” Wiley said, invoking a Bible verse that Dr. King was known to use.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams spoke passionately when he discussed the 2021 mayoral election, saying, “I understand how to help people who are going through a lot, that’s what the new mayor must be.”
He told the crowd that he has spent years trying to reform the police department, both inside and out, and said he would be the best candidate to get reform done.
“I am not new to this. I’m true to this. I've been here for some time,” Adams said.
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer acknowledged that while he may not look like the book people are going to pick first, “If you open the book and we start talking about the chapters in the book, I can make the case.”
WCBS 880’s Steve Burns notes that could be a nod to the new ranked choice voting system in place this year.
Sharpton had kind words for each candidate but, the reverend has yet to make a public endorsement.
New York City’s primary election will be on June 22, 2021, followed by a general election on Nov. 2, 2021. Incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio is unable to run for a third term due to term limits.