If the black vote does not come out in big numbers in the age of Ferguson and voter ID, it will empower our adversaries and enhance our marginalization. – Al Sharpton
Bill Clinton strikes me as the kind of guy who goes wherever the polls lead him, rather than leading the polls. – Al Sharpton
Not graduating high school on time leads to fewer chances of attending college and obtaining good paying jobs, and creates instead higher chances of incarceration and unemployment. – Al Sharpton
I grew up in the 1950s and ’60s, when it was almost a holiday when a black act would go on Ed Sullivan. – Al Sharpton
From racial profiling and being pulled over just for ‘driving while black’ to this new phenomenon of killing unarmed people out of some preconceived idea of fear, our lives and our children’s lives are not being valued. – Al Sharpton
Dr. King’s general principles are universal. But the things he confronted took place in another era. – Al Sharpton
My ordination in the Church of God in Christ was at age 9, and I later became a Baptist minister, which I am today. – Al Sharpton
National Action Network, the group I founded, has affiliates or chapters in over 40 cities around the country. – Al Sharpton
The United States isn’t a dictatorship ruling with a brutal army and an iron fist, so our police departments must understand that they are there to serve and protect us – all of us. And when they do commit crimes, they must be arrested and prosecuted like anyone else, bottom line. – Al Sharpton
Countries around the world have their own immigration laws and methods of dealing with a recurring theme: desperate people searching for peace from volatile parts of the world. And nations everywhere thrive and prosper from the contributions of immigrants and the children of immigrants – including right here in the U.S. – Al Sharpton
There’s no reason why children in inner cities or rural areas do not receive the same quality education or opportunities as those in suburbs or wealthy neighborhoods. If we truly believe in giving all citizens a chance to pursue happiness and pursue their goals, then we cannot continue to marginalize entire groups of people. – Al Sharpton
The right wing always mobilizes around constitutional amendments: the right to bear arms, school prayer. – Al Sharpton
Following Michael Brown’s death, I went to Ferguson and met with his parents. I stood with them as they tried to hold their heads high and deal with both their immense loss and the larger issues of police-community relations. – Al Sharpton
You don’t need any indictment in order to arrest someone; probable cause is sufficient to arrest civilians, so it must be enough to arrest police. – Al Sharpton
Everything from who sits on your local board of education to the prosecutors and judicial appointments in your area and much more are all impacted by who holds political office. – Al Sharpton
I knew from the age of four that I wanted to preach. I didn’t even consider it strange that grown people were listening to this kid preaching until I was around thirteen. I have never believed in limitations. – Al Sharpton
All women, regardless of her economic status or racial background, have a right to vote, and no politician or regressive law should prevent her from doing so. – Al Sharpton
Demonstrations must be dignified and nonviolent, as the overwhelming protests in Ferguson and Staten Island have been. Do not confuse anarchists who don’t want the system to work and thugs who want to exploit a situation with the majority who from day one have operated with impeccable nonviolence and clear goals. – Al Sharpton
I do believe the Democratic party has moved far to the right. I do believe that the party has a bunch of elephants running around in donkey clothes. – Al Sharpton
The horrific cases in Ferguson, in Staten Island with the death of Eric Garner, and all across the country serve as stark reminders that we must have a say in who polices us, and how that policing is done. We must, we must, let our voices be heard on Election Day. – Al Sharpton
The United States has got to adopt a policy of befriending and creating allies around the world. – Al Sharpton
We have defeated Jim Crow, but now we have to deal with his son, James Crow Jr., esquire. – Al Sharpton
In New York, you are competing with Times Square lights and all of that, so you’ve got to be 300 pounds and crazy to get anyone’s attention. Then, you can refine yourself. I always knew under those 300 pounds and tracksuits was a refined, slim, dignified man. – Al Sharpton
As I stood and gave the eulogy for young Michael Brown last week, I kept thinking about the fact that this child should have been in college instead of laying in a coffin. – Al Sharpton