Outspoken and sometimes controversial, the Reverend Al Sharpton made a stop in Louisville.
The civil rights leader sat down with WHAS11’s Renee Murphy for a one on one interview about his new mission with Newt Gingrinch, the biggest problem with race relations in this country and yes, he even talked about Sarah Palin.
It was a quick trip and you may not have even known he was in town.
Reverand Sharpton made a brief trip to Louisville as part of a leadership conference at St. Stephen Church Monday night.
But before this speech to the church congregation he told WHAS11, “If we can get Newt Gingrich on the right and you on the left it will show this is not a democratic issue or a republican issue this is an American issue.”
Sharpton has formed an unlikely alliance with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to help close the achievement gap between black and white students.
Sharpton says President Barack Obama asked for a bipartisan approach.
“Where it will go ultimately we don't know but next year in 2010. NCLB is up for renewal so we hope to expand and make that more effective to close the gap for better education,” said Sharpton.
“The church must do its part we can’t just ask government, that’s us not doing what we supposed to do for our kids.”
From education to race relations, Sharpton says the struggle is not over.
“I think what we have not done is made society in terms of structural inequality better to have a better attitude not have the courts more fair or have the schools more equal or economic opportunities equal.”
His political views haven't waivered.
Since forming a partnership with conservative Newt Gingrich, WHAS11’s Renee Murphy asked if plans on reading Sarah Palin’s book?
“I get up early in the morning, I stay up late at night but I haven’t found enough time for Sarah Palin’s book yet,” he said.
Sharpton said he wanted to come to Louisville because of the efforts he'd seen by local pastors to address the achievement gap issue.
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