Bobby Rush American politician, activist for African American rights Date of Birth: 23.11.1946 Country: USA

1. Biography of Bobby Rush
2. Early Life and Activism
3. Political Career
4. Views and Activism
5. Personal Life and Support

Biography of Bobby Rush

Bobby Rush is an American politician and civil rights activist. He is a member of the Democratic Party and serves as a Congressman from the 1st congressional district of Illinois, which has the highest percentage of African Americans in the country.

Early Life and Activism

Bobby Rush was born on November 23, 1946, in Albany, Georgia. When he was just a few months old, a series of unsolved murders of African Americans began in his hometown. At the age of 7, his parents divorced, and he moved to Chicago, Illinois, with his mother and siblings.

Rush faced difficulties in his education and eventually dropped out of high school. He joined the Army and became a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a student organization advocating for civil rights for African Americans. In 1968, he became the Minister of Defense for the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense.

Political Career

Rush gained popularity among African Americans for his advocacy of armed resistance against social aggression. However, over time, he shifted his focus to politics and aimed to secure the same rights and freedoms for African Americans as other Americans.

In the early 1980s, with the support of Harold Washington, the first African American mayor of Chicago, Rush was elected as an alderman in the Chicago City Council. He made an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 1999 but continued to be involved in local politics.

In one of his notable political achievements, Rush won the election for the 1st congressional district, defeating the incumbent Democratic candidate and six others, receiving 83% of the votes.

Views and Activism

Rush has been a vocal critic of the policies of former President George W. Bush, particularly the additional deployment of troops in Iraq. He believes that the presence of American military in Iraq is the cause of ongoing war and terrorism within the country.

Rush gained significant attention when he wore a hoodie and sunglasses during a speech at the White House in 2012, expressing his outrage over the killing of 17-year-old African American Trayvon Martin by a police officer. Despite the interruption of his speech due to the ban on headgear in the White House, Rush's actions further solidified his support among African Americans.

Personal Life and Support

Bobby Rush is married and has six children. He currently resides in Chicago. He is a close friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton and has recently endorsed Barack Obama's candidacy for the presidency, believing that the country needs leaders who can improve the lives of African Americans. He also represents African American congressmen in the United States.