DeRay Mckesson's Baltimore Mayoral Run Gets Boost From Twitter and Netflix Execs

Impact

Executives from Twitter, YouTube, Slack and Netflix have provided financial support to the Baltimore mayoral campaign of prominent Black Lives Matter activist, DeRay Mckesson, Re/code reports. The former teacher announced that he would be launching a bid to become the next mayor of Baltimore in February. 

"I am running to be the 50th Mayor of Baltimore in order to usher our city into an era where the government is accountable to its people and is aggressively innovative in how it identifies and solves its problems," Mckesson wrote on Medium

Read more: Here's What Baltimore Residents Have to Say About DeRay's Mayoral Race Announcement

After Mckesson's campaign finance disclosure was filed Tuesday, Re/code found that several tech executives have donated to the activist's campaign, including Crowdpac cofounder Gisel Kordestani, Twitter executive chairman Omid Kordestani, Slack founder Stewart Butterfield, and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who have all donated $6,000 towards the cause. YouTube executive Malik Ducard gave $2,500 to the campaign effort.

The Baltimore-born mayoral candidate has received positive feedback and criticism from the general public, as well as Baltimore residents. Mckesson joins a long list of candidates who are seeking to take the seat of mayor in Maryland's largest city. 

The Baltimore mayoral primary will be held on April 26, and the general election will take place on Nov. 8.

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