Kanye West Criticizes Harriet Tubman At His Political Rally

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Kanye West makes his first presidential campaign appearance, Sunday, July 19, 2020 in North Charleston, S.C. Rapper Kanye West, in his first event since declaring himself a presidential candidate, delivered a lengthy monologue Sunday touching on topics from abortion and religion to international trade and licensing deals. Whether he's actually seeking the nation's highest office remains a question. (Lauren Petracca Ipetracca/The Post And Courier via AP)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Rapper Kanye West, in his first event since declaring himself a presidential candidate, ranted against historical figure Harriet Tubman on Sunday, saying the Underground Railroad conductor “never actually freed the slaves, she just had them work for other white people,” comments that drew shouts of opposition from some in the crowd.

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West delivered a lengthy monologue, touching on topics from abortion and religion to international trade and licensing deals, before a crowd in North Charleston, South Carolina. Whether he is actually seeking the nation’s highest office remains a question.

Tubman is one of the most respected figures of 19th century America. An African American who escaped slavery, she helped enslaved Black men and women travel north to freedom and fought for the Union during the Civil War. She later became a supporter of women’s suffrage.

On abortion, West said that while he believes it should be legal, financial incentives to help struggling mothers could be a way to discourage the practice.

“Everybody that has a baby gets a million dollars,” he said as an example.

Wearing a protective vest and with “2020” shaved into his head, the entertainer appeared on a livestream of the event. Several hundred people gathered in a venue, where gospel music played before West’s appearance.

The event was reportedly for registered guests only, although a campaign website had no registration or RSVP information.

Speaking without a microphone, West became tearful at one point while talking about his mother, who died following plastic surgery complications in 2007.

West missed the deadline to qualify for the ballot in several states, and it was unclear if he was willing or able to collect enough signatures required to qualify in others. Last week, he qualified to appear on Oklahoma’s presidential ballot, the first state where he met the requirements before the filing deadline.

West needed to collect 10,000 signatures by noon Monday to appear on the South Carolina ballot, according to state law. The entertainer tweeted out a list of locations around the Charleston area where petitions could be signed. Email to an address purportedly associated with the campaign was not returned Sunday afternoon.

West, who is married to reality television star Kim Kardashian West, initially announced his candidacy on July 4.


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Weekend at Bernie's
Weekend at Bernie's
3 years ago

Kanye is very Trump like. He’s a good self promoter who knows how to appeal to the average dummy TV watcher. He’s still early on though. I would give him at least another 10 years prep until he’s ready for prime time. I can definitely see him as President one day. Doesn’t have a clue about governing, but then again Basement Joe has no clue either. The average dummy voter likes a person with personality, not some old fart hiding away in an undisclosed basement wearing a mask over his eyes.

PaulinSaudi
PaulinSaudi
3 years ago

I am not quite clear on who this gentleman is, or why he is famous. That said, he seems like a foolish man. I do not think I like him.

Fyi
Fyi
3 years ago

He is off his medication and is having mental health episode. People shouldn’t make fun of him or sensationalize it.

H M
H M
3 years ago

Not sure why this retard is news, unless he’s a threat to Trump? He was an obvious retard when he sat in the White House praising Trump, and nothing’s changed…

lazy-boy
lazy-boy
3 years ago

America is really sinking fast. With idiots like this, and demented Joe, and then there was self hating Bernie, it seems they can not seem to get a normal intelligent person to run for office.

Triumphinwhitehouse
Triumphinwhitehouse
3 years ago

Any street named after a black person like harriett tubman is dangerous. I didnt know that she enslaved other blacks truth is in africa in was africans who enslaved kanyes ancestors.

I was a democrat until I saw the light
I was a democrat until I saw the light
3 years ago

MSN’s a fool to re write history
But nonetheless glad he’s running certainly will siphon votes from Biden. Trump still will do better then expected with minorities that have gained from his economy prison reform and education advantages