Cornel West launches presidential bid — noted political activist got his start in Sacramento

Cornel West, the philosopher and political activist who grew up in Sacramento, has announced a third-party bid for president.

“In these bleak times, I have decided to run for truth and justice,” West said in a video posted on his Twitter account Monday.

West, 70, said he would run as a candidate for the People’s Party. The liberal philosopher is a professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Previously, he taught at Harvard and Princeton universities.

The video shows images of a young West over the years, giving speeches and at demonstrations. In it, West said he cares about the health and well-being of those watching along with the environment and American democracy.

“We’re talking about loving,” West said. “We’re talking about affirming. We’re talking about empowering those who have been pushed to the margins.”

Along with his teaching, West has written 20 books, according to his biography at Union Theological Seminary. His recent courses there have included discussions of James Baldwin, race and modernity and Mahatma Gandhi.

West faces long odds in the 2024 election. The field already includes President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and other prominent political figures.

“Do we have what it takes? We shall see,” West said in the video. “But some of us are going to go down fighting, go down swinging.”