Rev. Al Sharpton Gets Permanent MSNBC Slot

By JTA August 23, 2011

MSNBC chose Rev. Al Sharpton to be its permanent news host for the channel’s 6 P.M. slot, for a program to be called “PoliticsNation.”

Sharpton underwent a two-month tryout and will become the network’s only African-American host.

He was awarded the job days after he wrote an Op-Ed piece in the N.Y. Daily News in which he admitted to making some mistakes during the Crown Heights riots 20 years ago. Many Jews have blamed Sharpton for inflaming tensions after the fatal car accident that sparked the riots and have said that he therefore bears some responsibility for the fatal stabbing during the riots of Jewish student Yankel Rosenbaum.

Last week, Sharpton withdrew from a scheduled panel discussion on the riots at the Hampton Synagogue after the synagogue’s rabbi, Marc Schneier, came under fire for hosting the minister.

Sharpton’s new show will begin airing Aug. 29.

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