Cornel West, Teacher At Morningside School, Declares Bid For President

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, NY — Cornel West, the well-known activist and scholar, who currently teaches at the Union Theological Seminary in Morningside Heights, announced on Monday a 2024 presidential campaign.

He will run as a candidate for the People's Party.

"I am running for truth and justice as a presidential candidate for the People's Party to reintroduce America to the best of itself — fighting to end poverty, mass incarceration, ending wars and ecological collapse, guaranteeing housing, health care, education and living wages for all!" West tweeted Monday morning.

You can watch his full presidential bid announcement — HERE.

West, who is a former longtime professor at Harvard and Princeton University, returned to the Union Theological Seminary in March 2021 as the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair.

The seminary, which is affiliated with Columbia University, is located on West 121st Street and Broadway.

It was also the place West started his teaching career.

West recently got involved with a more local political race, endorsing in May exonerated member of the Central Park 5 Yusef Salaam in his bid for Harlem District 9 City Council.

"Yusef Salaam is the answer to the question: who does Harlem deserve to represent it in the City Council," West said. "Yusef's story is Harlem's story — and he will be a brave, courageous and forceful advocate for change," West said at the time.

Salaam called the endorsement — "an honor."