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Killer Mike on why he’s supporting Vincent Fort for Atlanta mayor

African American leadership has worked here exceptionally well. And the type of African American leadership we need is the kind we’ll get with Vincent Fort. I’m behind that guy all the way. If you supported Bernie Sanders for president, and hold true to those ideals . . . the only candidate I see those principles in is Fort.

Atlanta is one of richest black cities in America, but it’s also home to one of biggest wealth disparities. And America is the same way; it’s a rich country, but there’s also a huge wealth disparity. So Atlanta is successful like America: The top tier is doing well, but the working class, the African American community, people that are new here including immigrants and those who have come here from other states—they need someone who is going to help fortify those principles that they value. They want a productive way of growth that profits them, too, so that they’re not just servants, essentially, who bus into the city to work and then bus out.

Any time this city loses sight of the working class, we have gentrification like in Cabbagetown. There used to be racial harmony—not like in a Pepsi commercial, but real harmony that led to lasting friendships—and that now is eviscerated. Everyone got wiped out of that neighborhood. I don’t want to see another Cabbagetown happen.

It was great that city council decided to decriminalize marijuana, to give officers the chance to use their own discretion to say, “I’m not going to charge this 18 year-old.” They can give them a stern talking to, or a $75 fine, and move on. I appreciate [city council member and mayoral candidate] Kwanzaa [Hall] for that, and I appreciate Fort for making that his first big campaign issue. I’m encouraged by Fort because I want a progressive at the helm for the next eight years, and he is the only progressive I see.