Sanders endorsed by Black Lives Matter activist

NEW YORK, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Shaun King, a journalist and activist in the Black Lives Matter movement, has thrown his support behind Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

In a column for The New York Daily News published Friday, King -- who is the paper's senior justice writer -- praised the Vermont senator for considering Black Lives Matter when shaping his policies.

After Black Lives Matter disrupted two of Sanders' campaign events, he hired Symone Sanders as his press secretary, a juvenile justice advocate who is active in the Black Lives Matter movement. He also hired Erika Andiola to help shape immigration policy. Andiola is well known as an advocate for DREAMers -- largely undocumented youth living in America.

"It shocked me, actually. I had grown used to politicians shrugging off the pain and pleas of black folks and just assuming we'd vote for them anyway," King wrote. "Bernie didn't do anything like that."

Sanders has responded positively to Black Lives Matter, even adding a "racial justice" section to his website.CNN reported Hillary Clinton was protested by the group in October due of her failure to release a platform to address racial inequality and police brutality. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has similarly been quiet when it comes to addressing the group's concerns.