Melina Abdullah is a professor and a co-founder of Black Lives Matter. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
West commended Abdullah's "unique Black analysis and witness" and "keen intellect."
"At this historic and pivotal moment, it is my profound honor to stand alongside my dear sister, Dr. Melina Abdullah, a fierce and tireless advocate for truth, justice, and transformative change," West said in a press release. "Sister Melina’s incredible courage, keen intellect, and deep vision have greatly served the cause of liberation in education, worker rights, and both racial and gender justice. Her unique Black analysis and witness helps us confront our crumbling era of empire, white supremacy, and patriarchy. I look forward to working with her as we strengthen our commitment in our campaign for truth, justice and love!"
Abdullah, a professor of Pan-African studies and formerly chaired the Department of Pan-African Studies at Cal State, said that her "heart just soared" when she was asked to be West's vice president.
"I regard [West], and many of us regard him as one of the most brilliant people to walk this earth, and so I’ve been following him and have been really enthusiastic about his candidacy," Abdullah said on Smiley’s show.
"He and his wife, Annahita, asked and immediately my heart just soared," she said. "I said ‘yes’ immediately. Like, shouted ‘yes.’"
Black Lives Matter co-founder Melina Abdullah leads a protest during a Los Angeles City Council meeting last year. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Abdullah has been outspoken on X, comparing the New York Police Department as the KKK.
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"The KKK, the police, and government officials are one in the same," she wrote in a X post in Dec. 2023.
After the release of Beyoncé's latest album release last month, which features the singer holding an American flag, Abdullah wrote on X, "The #AmericanFlag symbolizes the genocide of Indigenous people, the theft of their land, the enslavement, dehumanization, and exploitation of Black people, and settler colonialism. Critique around @Beyonce’s artistic choice is important and healthy, not hate."
West's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
She is a native of Massachusetts and is based in Orlando, Florida.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to sarah.rumpf@fox.com and on X: @s_rumpfwhitten.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cornel-west-announces-blm-activist-professor-melina-abdullah-vp-pick