Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will join the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat, the environmental lawyer announced at the Park Plaza hotel.
“Under normal circumstances, I would not do this,” Kennedy said during his announcement speech. “But these are not normal circumstances. I’m watching my country being stolen from me.”
Kennedy, the 69-year-old son of former presidential candidate and U.S. senator Robert F. Kennedy Sr. and nephew of former president John F. Kennedy, is the second Democrat to announce a 2024 presidential bid. He joins writer Marianne Williamson on the road to likely face President Biden, who has not yet announced a re-election bid, in the Democratic primary.
Speaking to a couple hundred enthusiastic fans packed into the Boston hotel, Kennedy said he is running to “unite the country” and address the “corrupt merger of state and corporate power” he argued the political establishment is failing.
The lawyer and environmental activist gained attention during the pandemic as a prominent anti-vaccine, anti-lockdown advocate, a position applauded enthusiastically by supporters at the announcement Wednesday. Following coverage and social media bans led the candidate to also take up anti-censorship and media messaging.
“I’m about halfway done with this speech,” Kennedy warned around an hour in. “This is what happens when you censor somebody. I’ve got a lot to say.”
Kennedy spoke for a couple hours on his family’s political legacy and a range of issues key to his candidacy. Among others, he echoed his father’s campaign against poverty, emphasized his professional experience with environmental issues, critiqued a rise in chronic illnesses in children and questioned the U.S.’s involvement in Ukraine.
Kennedy was introduced by former New Jersey Assembly Member Jamel Holley and former U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich and brought out a Dorchester restauranter who lost his business in the pandemic and fisherman just notified of a cut to his food stamps.
The candidate’s speech was briefly interrupted by an unspecified emergency alert and evacuation order over hotel speakers. The room briefly quieted to listen before Kennedy said “Nice try,” and continued on.
Fans in the room — waving “Heal the Divide” and “I’m a Kennedy Democrat” signs — emphasized Kennedy’s differences from other Democrats and responded passionately to lines critiquing pandemic policies, censorship and corporation’s power, among others.
“I’m a longtime Democrat and am very disappointed in Democrats,” said Jeffrey Driscoll, a supporter from Abington, citing concerns about censorship and environmental issues. “I hope he can actually fix things.”
A new Economist/YouGov poll shows 56% of Democrats surveyed say Biden should not be the party’s choice in 2024 or they are not sure yet; almost 90% of independents say the same.
