Green Party presidential hopeful Dr. Jill Stein has tapped Ajamu Baraka as her vice presidential pick for the upcoming 2016 election.
Read more about Baraka below via Stein's campaign website:
Ajamu Baraka is a powerful, eloquent spokesperson for the transformative, radical agenda whose time has com—an agenda of economic, social, racial, gender, climate, indigenous and immigrant justice. Ajamu’s life’s work has embodied the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," Stein continued. "In this hour of unprecedented crisis, we are honored to lift up a unified movement for justice in the only national political party that is not held hostage by corporate money, lobbyists and super-PACs. We look forward to bringing this agenda for justice to the American people in the exciting race ahead."
Ajamu Baraka is an internationally recognized human rights activist, organizer and geo-political analyst. Founding Executive Director of the US Human Rights Network (until 2011) and Coordinator of the U.S. based “Black Left Unity Network’s” Committee on International Affairs, Baraka has served on the boards of various national and international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International (USA) and the National Center for Human Rights Education. He has served on the boards of the Center for Constitutional Rights; Africa Action; Latin American Caribbean Community Center; Diaspora Afrique; and the Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights.
Baraka is a member of the Green Shadow Cabinet and an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in Washington, D.C.
Stein was initially in talks with former Bernie Sanders surrogate and former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner for the slot, but talks eventually ended, albeit on good terms.
"In the process of vetting and selecting a VP, I was honored to talk with several inspired activists," Stein said. "Among them, I especially appreciate Senator Turner's willingness to have discussed the VP position. The fit just wasn’t right, as Senator Turner is still committed to try to save the soul of the Democratic Party. While we may not agree on whether that is possible, I respect her passion to fight for the people and wish her the best in her effort."
In an interview with Cleveland.com, Turner made it clear that she is proud to be a reformer within the Democratic Party. "I'm going to keep fighting in the party, even though I'm disappointed," Turner said. "I'm a Democrat, and that's worth fighting for."
See Jared Ball's exclusive interview with Green Party pick Baraka below: