The Jeb Bush campaign claimed the candidate privately met with Black Lives Matter activists after it was reported that activists were planning to disrupt one of his campaign events.
Bush spokeswoman Allie Brandenburger said that Bush met with Black Lives Matters advocates "ahead of his event in Las Vegas on issues including criminal justice reform. As Governor Bush laid out in is speech to the Urban League, he is committed to campaigning across the nation as he seeks the presidency, talking to everyone and every community about his vision for restoring opportunity for all Americans."
Jeb did not meet with activists, however, and appears to have confused a lobbyist and the CEO of a non-profit organization with activists.
There was a meeting, but no activists from the Black Lives Matter movement participated. Instead, Bush met with a local elected official, a GOP lobbyist and a staffer from an anti-poverty organization.
Kevin Hooks, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Urban League, told HuffPost he set up the meeting at the Bush campaign's behest. His organization focuses on providing job opportunities for low-income residents. Hooks said that while he respects Bush for reaching out, he would not characterize the people at the meeting as Black Lives Matter activists. "It's a little disingenuous," he said.
While the Bush campaign claimed to have met privately with activists, his campaign event was disrupted anyway and, evidently, for good reason: he never actually met with them.
The Jeb Bush campaign has seen better days but may not see another good day as he continues to talk about Iraq and confuse lobbyists with activists.