Van Jones became emotional when he thought about the marginalized Americans who feared what Donald Trump would do as president.
As he sat on CNN’s election panel just before 1 a.m. EST, knowing Trump would almost certainly win, Jones’ voice rang out as he spoke.
“I think about the people who are not part of anyone’s elite who are hurting tonight,” he said.
“There are African-American women who are somewhat aware of being talked down to. They know their economic dreams are being crushed.
‘They tried to dream a big dream in recent months. Tonight they trade a lot of hope for a lot of pain.”
Van Jones became emotional when he thought about the marginalized Americans who feared what Donald Trump would do as president
“There are African-American women who are somewhat aware of being talked down to. They know their economic dreams will be crushed,” Jones said
Jones mourned that American voters had rejected a black female presidential candidate and once again elected a white man.
“They hoped that this time maybe one of them would be considered worthy. And once again they face rejection, and it hurts,” he said.
‘They thought they would walk out tomorrow morning with their shoulders slightly back. Maybe being able to breathe and belong somewhere for the first time.’
Instead, it would be “harder than it should be” for them to “hold their heads up” on Wednesday after doing everything they could.
But they weren’t the only ones hurting, Jones said, as other minorities Trump disparaged during the campaign feared what he would do.
Jones mourned that American voters had rejected a black female presidential candidate and once again elected a white man
“If you’re a parent of a trans child, your child’s face was used as a springboard to power for someone. That doesn’t feel good,” he said.
‘There will be people tomorrow who will drop off clothes at the dry cleaners to people who do not have papers. Tomorrow there will be people who brush your teeth, but they don’t have papers.
“They’re terrified tonight.”
Jones said it was easy for Trump supporters to brag that “the elites will get their comeuppance” when he took over, but that they would not actually suffer.
“It’s the people who woke up this morning with a dream and went to bed with a nightmare,” he said.
“Those people will pay the price for whatever Donald Trump decides to do.”
Another panelist asked Jones how he knew that many of the people he was talking about didn’t actually help Trump’s likely victory, but Jones wasn’t given a chance to answer.
Another panelist asked Jones how he knew that many of the people he was talking about didn’t actually help Trump’s likely victory.
“The Democratic Party has failed those Black women,” he claimed.
Jones said he was going to “try” to answer that point, but before he could say anything, the coverage had to switch to a new result.
Jones served as special advisor on green jobs to former President Barack Obama in 2009 and as a civil rights advocate and advocate.