As Democrats work to solidify Vice President Kamala Harris’s standing among black male voters who could be decisive in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, the Democratic candidate spoke in a polite yet polite radio town hall hosted by Charlamagne Tha God. I was asked a sharp question. tuesday.
The comedian and author asked Harris, a former California attorney general and career prosecutor, about claims that she intentionally imprisoned black men for marijuana to further her own career, and she responded, calling the claims misinformation and citing her work advocated.
“I know exactly how those laws have been used to disproportionately affect certain populations, especially black men,” Harris said, adding that she is the “most progressive prosecutor” in California and pointing to her proposal to decriminalize marijuana. did it
Harris also claimed the false claims were part of a systematic effort by the campaign of her Republican rival, former President Trump.
“They are trying to scare people because they know they have no other way to run,” she said.
Harris’ hour-long appearance with Charlamagne Tha God is part of a concerted effort by the campaign to stem the erosion of support for the Democratic candidate among black men. Although she would win the polls overwhelmingly, polls show she has less support in this critical Democratic district than President Biden did four years ago.
Former President Obama addressed the slippage while campaigning for Harris in Pittsburgh last week, saying the lack of energy “seems to be more evident with the brothers.”
On Monday, Harris unveiled her “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men,” which includes providing fully forgivable loans to entrepreneurs. Create education, training, and mentoring programs aimed at increasing career opportunities, such as education, for Black men. Establish a health equity plan focused on sickle cell disease, diabetes, and other conditions that disproportionately affect Black men.
Her campaign also has several new initiatives aimed at engaging this bloc of voters, including “Black Men Huddle Up” NFL and NCAA watch parties with celebrities and activists at black-owned sports bars in cities like Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta. announced their efforts.
Later Tuesday, Harris discussed the danger a second Trump presidency poses to the country and the importance of voting in a taped conversation with rappers Fat Joe and Too Short that aired at the BET Hip Hop Awards.
“There is a lot of misinformation out there that suggests to people that their vote doesn’t matter. As far as I’m concerned, no one should silence you,” Harris said. “Because when you vote, you actually have the ability to decide the future of our country.”
In response to Fat Joe raising the impact of misinformation on elections, Harris responded that it was a deliberate attempt to suppress voting.
“What do you do when you tell people they can’t trust the system? “Don’t participate,” he said. “That’s why I say don’t let anyone take you out of your game. That’s the first step to never being able to make a difference.”
At Harris’ town hall with Charlamagne Tha God, Solomon Kinloch Jr., pastor of Detroit’s Triumph Church, was asked about the Trump campaign’s claim that he was not involved in the black church community. Harris responded that the claims were “disinformation.”
Citing the Oakland church she attended as a child and the current senior pastor of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, Harris said her Republican rival “tried to connect me with people I worked with and came from.”
And she took a look at some of Trump’s latest merchandise.
“He’s trying to play with people as if selling $60 Bibles or tennis shoes will give them a better understanding of the black community,” she said. “hurry.”
Asked about the proposal for reparations for black Americans for slavery, the vice president reiterated his previous position: “It should be studied.” There’s no question about that. And I was very clear about that position.”
As a U.S. senator representing California, Harris supported the creation of a federal commission to study the issue.
The Trump campaign was caught up in this remark.
“Kamala Harris is a radical liberal,” the former president’s campaign said in a statement. “A 2020 report from NBC News noted that this “could cost the U.S. government $10 trillion to $12 trillion.”
After Harris’ event with Charlamagne Tha God, she visited Cred Cafe, a Detroit small business owned by former NBA players Joe and Jamal Crawford. Among those in attendance was actor Don Cheadle.
She noted that early voting begins in Michigan just four days after receiving a “Detroit VS Everybody” t-shirt from the brand’s founder. She said she felt a “kind spirit” in Detroit.
Earlier in the day, she pointed to President Trump’s fierce criticism of what would happen to the United States if he were elected president, and the president repeated comments he made there last week on Tuesday while participating in an interview with Bloomberg News in Chicago. .
“Can you imagine going to a city and saying you want their votes and then denigrating that city?” Harris spoke incredulously, adding that Trump has a penchant for insulting cities that have historically had majority black populations.
