(HorizonPost.com) – Al Sharpton’s controversial nature burst into the American consciousness in 1987, when he conspired in a series of lies in the Tawana Brawley case, for which he was ordered to pay $65,000 in a defamation of character suit. Now, he’s pushing a narrative saying Black Americans are distrustful of the potential COVID-19 vaccines and has used his MSNBC platform to bring others into it, such as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D).
1/2 NY Governor Andrew Cuomo joins me on #PoliticsNation to discuss rising covid-19 numbers, the demand for equal vaccine distribution, and more. pic.twitter.com/OQGEwLCU97
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) November 15, 2020
One of his primary talking points is that the Black community would reject the inoculation because of past racist experiments by the government. However, a recent Gallup poll carried out between October 19 and November 1 shows that 52% of “non-White” respondents are willing to receive the vaccine.
Of those who are unwilling, only 11% of the “non-White” demographic do not trust vaccines in general, and 12% would refuse the vaccine for other reasons, including a general distrust of the government. When polled specifically about the shortened timeline or wanting to wait and see how effective the vaccine might be, 48% of those in the “non-White” demographic who express initial hesitation fall in this category.
Despite his dubious history when it comes to truthfulness, Sharpton remains a voice the Progressives of the country listened to. Whether his pronouncement is meant to garner influence with a potential Biden/Harris administration or some other unknown purpose, it would be a tragedy if it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Copyright 2020, HorizonPost.com
