After Sanders visited the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood, he held a press conference at the Freddie Gray Empowerment Center in Bolton Hill. He told reporters: “Anyone who took the walk that we took around this neighborhood would not think you’re in a wealthy nation. You would think that you were in a Third World country.”
Freddie Gray was arrested in April. Gray died after suffering a spinal chord injury in police custody.
The Baltimore Sun reports that a Sanders spokeswoman discouraged reporters from asking questions about ISIS, which has been the topic du jour among Sanders’ competitors in recent days. However, according to the Sun, one reporter ignored the request.
“What about ISIS, guys? Of course I’ll talk about ISIS,” Sanders responded before pivoting back on message. “But today what we’re talking about is a community in which half of the people don’t have jobs. We’re talking about a community in which there are hundreds of buildings that are uninhabitable.” The conference ended shortly thereafter.
The visit coincided with the trial for Officer William Porter, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter, assault and misconduct in connection with Gray’s death. WBFF reports all six officers charged in connection with Gray’s death are to be tried separately.
Sanders also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Tuesday evening, where he told Fallon: “I look forward to beating Donald Trump. I will enjoy that race very very much.”
Responding to Trump’s plan to ban Muslims from entering the United States, Sanders said: “A few months ago we were supposed to hate Mexicans, now we’re supposed to hate Muslims, and that kind of crap is not going to work in the United States of America.”
