Jack Schlossberg — who is campaigning to win New York’s 12th Congressional District — sat down with civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton for coffee and conversation, but there were no commitments.
The duo had a “power breakfast” at The Regency in New York City last week, where they reminisced about the political scions mom Caroline Kennedy, his grandfather John F. Kennedy, and even got personal about faith, we’re told.
However, he didn’t leave with an endorsement.
Sharpton chose his words carefully and made it clear during their meeting that he wasn’t offering a political endorsement, according to his longtime rep Rachel Noerdlinger.
Sharpton expressed that he hopes the Kennedy heir would carry on his grandfather’s legacy.
Sharpton told him, “When your grandfather was killed, your grandfather’s work on civil rights was still unfolding. Lyndon Johnson helped push it forward, but today, much of that progress is under threat,” Noerdlinger said.
Schlossberg also shared his admiration for Sharpton’s activism work and recalled how his mother, Caroline, met with him at Harlem soul food staple, Sylvia’s, when then Gov. David Patterson was championing her to take over Hillary Clinton’s vacant senate seat.
Barack Obama was another big name who came up during their chat. Schlossberg reminisced about hearing the former president speak for the first time at Sharpton’s National Action Network convention.
Noerdlinger said things got personal, when Schlossberg asked, “When you pray, what do you say?” And that’s when, “the two dove into a deeper conversation on faith, purpose and legacy, far beyond politics,” she said.
After their morning pow-wow, they took to Instagram, and posted photos from their breakfast. Sharpton wrote: President Donald Trump “is trying to overturn everything his grandfather, President John Kennedy started in the early 1960s. It’s in Jack’s blood to fight the backlash.”
Schlossberg described Sharpton as a “hero to me,” writing “His commitment to civil rights and progress is unmatched.”
“A living legend, a New Yorker and a man who still believes in something better,” he concluded.
Alex Bores, Micah Lasher and George Conway are also battling to replace Jerry Nadler in the House seat.
