Bernie Sanders Appoints Progressive Legends to Democratic Platform Committee

By Tom Cahill

If Bernie Sanders’ committee appointees have their say, the 2016 Democratic Party platform may be the most progressive in history.

After it was announced Monday that the Vermont senator would get to appoint five out of the total fifteen members of this year’s platform drafting committee, Sen. Sanders appointed five progressive leaders advocating for a wide array of issues. Sen. Sanders’ picks are also incredibly diverse, with African American, Muslim, Native American, and female representation.

As The Hill reported, outspoken civil rights activist and professor Dr. Cornel West is the first pick to have a role in drafting this year’s Democratic Party platform. Joining him is U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), a superdelegate supporting Sanders who is co-chair of the Progressive Caucus (founded by Sen. Sanders) and is one of only two Muslim members of Congress.

In addition to West and Ellison, Sanders appointed Deborah Parker, vice chair of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington State, to serve on the platform committee. Dr. James Zogby, head of the Arab-American Institute, and 350.org founder Bill McKibben will also help write this year’s platform.

The lineup suggests Sanders will not only focus on the kitchen table economic issues that have defined his campaign, like a $15/hour minimum wage and universal healthcare coverage, but will also emphasize rights for indigenous peoples, criminal justice reform, and a carbon tax to combat climate change as part of the Democratic Party’s official platform for the next four years.

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