Controversial activist Shaun King often makes headlines for his harsh criticism of public figures. On Wednesday, his support, for a change, of the newly named Democratic vice presidential nominee has him in hot water with social media pundits.
King, founder of the Real Justice PAC, hopped on Twitter on Tuesday to throw his support behind presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s pick of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.
“I am incredibly proud to see a brilliant Black woman, and HBCU grad, chosen as a Vice Presidential nominee,” King, a Morehouse College graduate, said on Twitter. “I’ve done political work my whole life. It’s rarely things dreams are made of.”
King had previously lambasted Biden and Harris for their past political careers that he said helped “build and advance mass incarceration.”
Welcome to the KHive, Shaun King. 🤣 https://t.co/k9GLc2VMCv
— Candice Aiston 😎🍦💛🐝 (@CandiceAiston) August 12, 2020
While a district attorney in California in the 1990s, Harris built a reputation as a prosecutor who was tough on crime, which greatly affected Black people. The incarceration rate for Black people remains at more than five times their share of California’s population, according to a Los Angeles Times report. Now Harris is a valiant supporter of reducing mass incarceration.
Harris has referred to herself as a “progressive prosecutor,” and one of her former colleagues told USA Today: “As San Francisco DA, Harris refused to seek the death penalty—even on a case where a very respected police officer was tragically killed.”
Responses have been mixed about Harris’ past as a prosecutor, but some have said her most recent policies as a freshman senator have brought some redemption to some of her choices in her earlier political career.
King had been a supporter of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders before the 2020 presidential race, and some of his comments during that time have brought his recent support of Harris into question for some.
People who are like, "Aha! THIS will embarrass and ruin Shaun King for sure this time!" remind me of people who are like, "Aha! THIS will embarrass and ruin Trump for sure this time!"
— Peter Wolf (@peterawolf) August 12, 2020
Both of these men are confidence tricksters and frauds and thieves; shamelessness defines them.
Shaun King exposing himself as a fraud pic.twitter.com/ZcuQggK8aJ
— Joe Biden is a Racist (@TErickson87) August 12, 2020
How is shaun king proud of Kamala Harris now when he was accusing her of murder during the primary. Lol
— Imani 'Pumpkin Spice' Gandy 🌽🍂🍁 (@AngryBlackLady) August 12, 2020
After fielding criticism for his support of Harris, King explained why he now is in favor of the 55-year-old politician.
“I can only speak for myself, but when I harshly critique leaders, it’s with the hope that they will grow and evolve.” “She has improved drastically on all justice & policing-related issues since she was last District Attorney in 2011,” he tweeted.
This summer?!?! Shaun King is out here acting like as AG, Kamala didn’t CREATE the Div of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry, cutting the rate down to 10%, create the Back on Track initiative to help low level drug offenders re-enter society, refused to seek the death penalty.... https://t.co/eLKex0Ye6P
— Emily (@emilyjkru) August 12, 2020
King has been under scrutiny over the years for identifying as Black when many critics say that is not the case. He has also been ridiculed about where his fundraising dollars go and his comments on tearing down statues that depict Jesus as “European.”
Some on Twitter questioned why any of King’s comments are still newsworthy, considering the controversy around him.
About the Author
