Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Councilman Charles Barron's Freedom Party Bid For Governor
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 18, 2010
Modified Jun 18, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 18, 2010
Modified Jun 18, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Outspoken City Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) officially kicked off his "protest" run for governor yesterday, by announcing the formation of the Freedom Party, an all-black party. Noting how Cuomo picked a white running mate and how the other state office nominees are white, the Daily News reports that Barron said, "Don't call us racists when we point out racism. This was supposed to be the post-racial society. Somebody should have told that to the New York State Democratic Party."
Barron also repeated his refrain, "The Democratic Party has taken us for granted," and said, "It's time for us to be for us. It's time for us to be a self-determining people." (Video after the jump.) He told the Observer, "Today is a historic moment for us Malcom X called for an independent party. Marcus Garvey called for an independent party, and the time is ripe for that right now.. Most of the candidates like Michael Bloomberg will not be honest in saying that he is the candidate of rich, white men. He won’t say that. I’ll say that I love black people and while people. I’m going to serve all the people, I’m really going to look out for black people who have been wronged for so long."
Barron must get 15,000 signatures in order to appear on the ballot this fall; according to the News, he says the Freedom Party will do that and he wants "to get 50,000 votes for governor - giving it status as a major party for the next four years."
Video via the Daily News:
Tagged
andrew cuomo
Charles Barron
Democratic party
election 2010
Freedom Party
governor
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 4:22 p.m. ET
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
News
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
By
David Brand
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
By
Jessica Gould
NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them
By
Clayton Guse
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .