DeRay McKesson has made a name for himself as a prominent figure in the Black Lives Matter movement, and now he'll be using his influence to try and fix the system from the inside. McKesson announced on Thursday that he intends to run for mayor of Baltimore.

McKesson filed his application minutes before the deadline on Wednesday night. The 30-year-old, a native of the city, will likely face tough competition in the primary as Baltimore has a history of electing Democratic mayors, including former presidential candidate Martin O'Malley.

McKesson released a statement saying he plans to run for office to challenge the political status quo: “We cannot rely on traditional pathways to politics and the traditional politicians who walk that path,” he says. “We have to challenge the practices that have not and will not lead to transformation.”
Get to know more about DeRay, a BET Honors 'Next in Class' nominee, below: