Louisiana Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Gary Chambers released a new political ad on Wednesday that shows him burning a Confederate flag and condemning “restrictive” voting laws.
The video, called “Scars and Bars,” portrays Chambers in a camouflage jacket as he hangs a Confederate flag on a clothesline and sets it on fire with a lighter while reciting a portion of the Declaration of Independence.
“The attacks against black people, our right to vote and participate in this democracy, are methodical,” Chambers said in the video.
“Our system isn’t broken; it’s designed to do exactly what it’s doing, which is producing measurable inequity,” he added.
“One in 13 black Americans are deprived of the right to vote. One in nine black Americans do not have health insurance. One in three black children live in poverty,” the ad stated.
“It’s time to burn what remains of the Confederacy down,” Chambers said near the end of the video.
In a Twitter post featuring his new ad, Chambers wrote, “Here in Louisiana and all around the South, it feels like Jim Crow never left and the remnants of the Confederacy remain. I do believe the South will rise again, but this time, it’ll be on our terms.”
My new ad, ‘Scars and Bars.’
Here in Louisiana and all around the South, it feels like Jim Crow never left and the remnants of the Confederacy remain.
I do believe the South will rise again, but this time, it’ll be on our terms.
Join us at https://t.co/EoFc59WVR1 pic.twitter.com/vTlnIy9njq
— Gary Chambers (@GaryChambersJr) February 9, 2022
Chambers, who seeks to upset Republican Sen. John Kennedy, says on his campaign website that he is “an entrepreneur and co-founder of the media outlet, The Rouge Collection, is a noteworthy social justice advocate and community organizer.”
He also ran in an unsuccessful attempt for a seat in the U.S. House in 2021.
The video is not the first controversial message from Chambers. Last month, the Senate candidate released an ad that featured him smoking marijuana.
Chambers was featured in the commercial that showed him sitting in an open field and lighting up, taking in multiple puffs as he spoke in his video entitled “37 Seconds.”
“I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology,” Chambers wrote in a statement alongside the video.
My first campaign ad, ‘37 Seconds.’ #JustLikeMe
I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology. pic.twitter.com/G0qKvmUGKD
— Gary Chambers (@GaryChambersJr) January 18, 2022
“Every 37 seconds someone is arrested for possession of marijuana. Since 2010, state and local police have arrested an estimated 7.3 million Americans for violating marijuana laws, over half of all drug arrests,” Chambers said in the video.
“Black people are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana laws than white people. States waste $3.7 billion dollars enforcing marijuana laws every year. Most of the people police are arresting aren’t dealers, but rather people with small amounts of pot just like me,” he added.
The viral video has been viewed more than 6.7 million times just on Twitter.
Chambers hopes to build on the success Democrats had in Georgia in a January 2021 Senate runoff election that led to a win for Sen. Raphael Warnock.
“When we build people power around this nation, to impact a state that has a population of 4 million people – we can expand the margins in the senate and create real change,” Chambers wrote in a recent post.
“We have a golden opportunity to do what Georgia did & send a Democrat to the US Senate,” he added.
When we build people power around this nation, to impact a state that has a population of 4 million people – we can expand the margins in the senate and create real change.
We have a golden opportunity to do what Georgia did & send a Democrat to the US Senate. #MoreofUs
— Gary Chambers (@GaryChambersJr) February 7, 2022
Chambers announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate on January 11.
I’m running for the U.S. Senate.
Louisiana has been last long enough, it’s time for new leadership in Washington D.C. that will prioritize working class people. Join me on this journey for change. When we come together anything is possible. #MoreOfUshttps://t.co/EoFc59Wo1t pic.twitter.com/XQZ3UfXru9
— Gary Chambers (@GaryChambersJr) January 11, 2022