Democrat Leadership Battle: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Protests with UFW

Robert F Kennedy Jr. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)
Evan Vucci / Associated Press

With the Clintons and the Obamas pushed off liberalism’s pedestal, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. tried to pick up the Democratic mantle on Friday by joining the United Farm Workers’ (UFW) union in a Fresno protest against President Donald Trump’s promise to deport criminal illegal aliens.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined 150 UFW members, faith leaders and a huge gaggle of press in front of Fresno’s Robert E. Coyle Federal Building to protest against President Trump’s threat to move forward with honoring his campaign promises to build “That Wall,” according to the Fresno Bee.

Kennedy host of the Ring of Fire radio show, environmental activist, author and environmental law attorney — moved from New York to California in 2014 after marrying actress Cheryl Hines. The couple bought the Malibu mansion of eight-time Emmy winning composer David Kurtz just before the 2014 elections for what Trulia real estate advisors estimates was $4,995,000. The four-bedroom and three-bathroom craftsman home sits on an acre estate in the exclusive Point Dume enclave.

As the last scion of the storied political family, Robert F. Kennedy is fully aware that Hillary Clinton’s stunning presidential loss, despite the full backing of President Obama, has left the Democrat Party in what the Washington Post calls “disarray” and without an obvious leader.

Shortly after President Barack Obama took office in 2009, the Democrats obtained a filibuster-proof majority of 60 Senate seats, a 37-seat majority in the House, and 28 governorships. Eight years later, the Republicans hold the presidency, a majority with 52 seats in the Senate, a 47-seat majority in the House, and 33 governorships. Republicans also control both legislative chambers in 32 states, including 17 with veto-proof majorities.

Kennedy’s father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Los Angeles as he was on the verge of winning the 1968 Democratic nomination for president. Senator Hubert Humphrey would win the Democrat nomination and lose to Republican Richard Nixon, marking the beginning of the end of Democrats dominating U.S. politics for four decades.

Kennedy Jr.’s father had a long history of supporting Cesar Chavez and the rise of the UFW as a union. Kennedy Sr. supported Chavez’s 25-day fast and bitter first union organizing strike in Delano. He was rewarded with farmworker support that provided the crucial vote margin to win the 1968 California Democrat Primary.

 

With literally more press than UFW protestors, Kennedy Jr. told the rally that undocumented workers and their families should not get caught up in Trump’s hate. He looked directly into the cameras and said that love and compassion, “These are the ideals that are going to make America great again.”

 

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