Louisiana Democrat Gary Chambers Jr.‘s U.S. Senate marketing campaign advertisements are on fireplace — each actually and on social media platforms.
Chambers’ first two digital movies went viral after he first smoked a marijuana blunt in his opening effort and torched a Accomplice flag in a second advert launched this week.
Here is what we all know in regards to the first two advertisements from Chambers, a Baton Rouge neighborhood activist who’s a heavy underdog to knock off incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy and who additionally faces one other Democrat within the race in retired U.S. Navy pilot Luke Mixon.
Chambers smokes weed
Chambers opening advert referred to as “37 Seconds” wherein he smokes a blunt has been seen by almost 7 million folks on Twitter alone.
“Each 37 seconds somebody is arrested for the possession of marijuana. Black individuals are 4 instances as more likely to be arrested for marijuana legal guidelines than white folks,” he says within the video, citing information from the American Civil Liberties Union. “The general public police are arresting aren’t sellers, however reasonably folks with small quantities of pot — identical to me.”
Extra:Louisiana Senate candidate Gary Chambers Jr.’s weed smoking ad sparks social media sensation
It was shot, directed and edited by Baton Rouge filmmaker Erwin Marionneaux.
Although the advert went viral, not each Democrat in Chambers’ residence state was impressed.
Gov. John Bel Edwards, the one Democratic governor within the Deep South, did not embrace Chambers’ advert, regardless of signing payments final yr that expanded the state’s medical marijuana program and made possession of small quantities of weed a misdemeanor in all instances. He does not help legalizing leisure weed.
“The imagery of really smoking marijuana on an web advert just isn’t one thing that folks ought to reward him for,” Edwards mentioned throughout his January radio present on WRKF.
Accomplice flag torched in ‘Scars and Bars’ advert
Chambers’ launched his “Scars and Bars” advert at the side of the Louisiana Legislature’s ongoing Particular Session to redraw the state’s political traces.
The Republican-dominated Legislature has to this point rejected Democrats’ makes an attempt to increase the variety of majority-Black districts in Congress.
Chambers led a rally on the Louisiana Capitol steps Wednesday morning advocating for an enlargement of majority-Black districts.
Extra:Louisiana Senate candidate Gary Chambers burns Confederate flag in latest provocative ad
The “Scars and Bars,” which already has about 750,000 views on Twitter, was additionally shot, directed and edited by Baton Rouge filmmaker Erwin Marionneaux. It was written and produced by United Public Affairs founder and New Orleans resident Erick Sanchez.
“Gerrymandered districts are a byproduct of the Confederacy,” Chambers says as he lights a Accomplice flag on fireplace. “It is time to burn what stays of the Confederacy down.
“I do consider the South will rise once more, however will probably be on our phrases.”
Are Chambers’ provocative advertisements producing marketing campaign donations?
Chambers hasn’t but filed his required newest marketing campaign finance report, however he mentioned on Twitter his marketing campaign netted greater than $100,000 in marketing campaign donations on the primary day the “Scars and Bars” advert was launched.
Chambers additionally mentioned supporters hosted a fundraiser in New York Metropolis Thursday.
However he has a protracted technique to go to catch Kennedy, whose marketing campaign reported about $11 million money readily available.
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Community of Louisiana. Comply with him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
