Featured Commentator

 

Rev. Al Sharpton, or "The Rev", as he is known among his fans, has been active in the Civil Rights Movement since the 1970s, but his popularity gained ground during the Amadou Diallo trial. In September 1999, Rev Sharpton led multi-ethnic rallies after the police slaying of West African immigrant Amadou Diallo. Sharpton ran for political office in 1992, 1994 and 1997.  His first campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate garnered him 70 percent of the state-wide black vote and helped three black legislators achieve victory.  His 1997 run for New York City mayor came within one percentage point of forcing a Democratic primary run off. Sharpton's career is recounted in his 1996 autobiography, Go and Tell Pharaoh.