Sen. Cory Booker implored an audience in New Orleans on Friday to combat the “savagely wrong” state of American culture by thinking about the importance of a “civic gospel.”
The New Jersey senator who said he once cried “tears of rage” over the Trump administration’s rhetoric told political allies that they must reject the “normalcy of injustice” that permeates modern America. He told the room of activists that he wants them to rise to the “higher ground of activism of engagement of love.”
“I’m a big believer that if America, if this country hasn’t broken your heart, then you don’t love her enough. Because there’s things that are savagely wrong in this country. There’s a normalcy of injustice that we’ve accepted,” Mr. Booker said while discussing Hassan Washington, a city councilman who was shot as a teenager.
“Newark has gifted me a wisdom that can only come from wounds, a sense of purpose that can only come from shared pain,” the New Jersey Democrat continued. “It’s a city that at times where my heart has been broken but I’ve learned that the heart is this interesting organ that, it’s the only one that really works even if it’s gotten broken.”
The Republican Party’s “GOP War Room” YouTube channel quickly turned the moment into a quick-reaction video.
“Preacher, actor, pathetic,” wrote one viewer.
SEE ALSO: Cory Booker’s ‘tears of rage’ rant mocked; senator likened to Tommy Wiseau of ‘The Room’
“He can use a new acting coach,” added another. “Sad showing.”
Some of the other panels scheduled for the Friday included: “From Online Message Boards to Trump’s Tweets: How Fake News and Online Harassment are Threatening Our Democracy,” and “Netroots Training: Don’t Fear the Black Activist.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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