#BlackLivesMatter Activist DeRay McKesson Plans To Run For Mayor Of Baltimore

In the past year, DeRay McKesson has turned 140 characters on Twitter into a political crusade. The figurehead of the Black Lives Matter movement has announced that he is running for the Mayor of Baltimore.

The current mayor of the city, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has decided not to run for reelection amidst a highly controversial tenure where following the death of Freddie Gray, Baltimore became one of the epicenters for #BlackLivesMatter protests against police brutality.

While McKesson may seem to be a favorable candidate to millennials, the former public school administrator has stiff competition that boosts more political experience.

According to HelloBeautiful, the likely frontrunner is Nick J. Mosby, a city councilman and the husband of state prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby who is trying the six police officers in the death of Freddie Gray.

Former Baltimore mayor Sheila Dixon, is also in the race and remains popular amongst residents even though she left office after a conviction on fraud charges.

McKesson, 30, has released a statement on his political aspirations:

“If Baltimore wants to achieve its ‘promise and possibility, we cannot rely on traditional pathways to politics and the traditional politicians who walk that path. We have to challenge the practices that have not and will not lead to transformation.”

The Democratic primary will take place on April 26th.