Kamala Harris DOES attend criminal justice forum in South Carolina after saying she would boycott

Kamala Harris has made a surprise appearance at a criminal justice forum in South Carolina, just 24 hours after declaring she would boycott the event because its sponsor gave President Trump an award. 

The Democratic candidate told reporters at the 2019 Second Step Presidential Justice Forum, held at the historically black Benedict College on Saturday, that she reversed course on her decision after learning that the sponsor was ‘removed’ from the forum. 

However, The Washington Post reports that it remains unclear as to what way the sponsor – The 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center – was removed, given that they continued to tweet about the forum throughout Saturday. 

On Friday, The 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center gave an award to Trump for his administration’s work in passing the First Step Act  – a bill which allows inmates who are serving time for selling crack cocaine to ask a judge to reduce their prison sentences.

The bill was designed to help in the fight for racial justice, as a majority of those behind bars for crack cocaine offenses are black males. 

After learning that Trump was receiving the award, Harris announced her boycott of Saturday’s forum, stating:  ‘As the only candidate who attended an (historically black college), I know the importance that these spaces hold for young Black Americans. 

‘Today, when it became clear Donald Trump would receive an award after decades of celebrating mass incarceration, pushing the death penalty for innocent Black Americans, rolling back police accountability measures and racist behavior that puts people’s lives at risk … I cannot in good faith be complicit in papering over his record.’

There she is! Kamala Harris  made a surprise appearance at the 2019 Second Step Presidential Justice Forum at Benedict College on Saturday, despite claiming she was boycotting the event. Harris said she decided to attend after one of the event’s sponsors she found objectionable were ‘removed’

On Friday, Harris said she would not attend the forum after one of its sponsors - The 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center - honored Trump with an award (pictured)

On Friday, Harris said she would not attend the forum after one of its sponsors – The 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center – honored Trump with an award (pictured)

Trump subsequently mocked Harris on Twitter, taking aim at her sinking poll numbers, which are now in the single digits. 

‘Badly failing presidential candidate Kamala Harris will not go to a very wonderful largely African American event today because yesterday I recieved [sic] a major award, at the same event, for being able to produce & sign into law major Criminal Justice Reform legislation, which will greatly help the African American community (and all other communities), and which was unable to get done in past administrations despite a tremendous desire for it,’ the President tweeted.

‘This and best unemployment numbers EVER is more than Kamala will EVER be able to do for African Americans!’

Harris then snapped back, writing on Twitter: ‘My whole life I’ve fought for justice and for the people – something you’d know nothing about. The only part of criminal justice you can claim credit for is the ‘criminal’ part.’ 

Harris is pictured at the 2019 Second Step Presidential Justice Forum in South Carolina on Saturday

Harris is pictured at the 2019 Second Step Presidential Justice Forum in South Carolina on Saturday

However, Harris – who was once California’s Attorney General – has come under fire for her tough-on-crime stance in her home state, with many saying she unfairly targeted African Americans and other minorities during her time as a top prosecutor.  

According to The Los Angeles Times, the African American incarceration rate in California remains more than five times their share of the state’s population. 

Meanwhile, she also supported a 2008 San Francisco policy that reported arrested undocumented juveniles to ICE.   

Outside of her alleged ‘flip-flopping’ on crime, Harris has also come under fire for making contradicting statements about her beliefs in Medicare-For-All. 

 

‘This and best unemployment numbers EVER is more than Kamala will EVER be able to do for African Americans!’ Trump tweeted

‘This and best unemployment numbers EVER is more than Kamala will EVER be able to do for African Americans!’ Trump tweeted

The senator responded to Trump on Twitter, tweeting: 'My whole life I've fought for justice and for the people - something you'd know nothing about. The only part of criminal justice you can claim credit for is the “criminal” part.'

The senator responded to Trump on Twitter, tweeting: ‘My whole life I’ve fought for justice and for the people – something you’d know nothing about. The only part of criminal justice you can claim credit for is the ‘criminal’ part.’

On Saturday, many fans of the politician refuted that she had flip-flopped on her attendance at the criminal justice forum. 

‘She didn’t change her mind. The organizers of the forum agreed with her and sent the sponsor who awarded Trump packing,’ one wrote. 

‘Kamala Harris was able to reshape a whole weekend of CJR programming based on her singular, unilateral protest and remove an objectionable sponsor. She didn’t change her mind – she brought about change,’ another chimed in.   

Taking to the stage at the event, Harris explained why she decided to boycott the event. 

‘Let me just be clear so you can hear it from me,’ she said. ‘I refused to come because frankly Benedict College students were excluded and also I said I wouldn’t come because I couldn’t believe that Donald Trump would be given an award as it relates to criminal justice reform.’

‘This is someone who’s disrespected the voices who have fought for justice and sacrificed to create leadership around justice in this system.’

‘Someone who dares, dares, use the word ‘lynching’ on the soil of South Carolina where blood has been spilled, he dares to compare himself to the people who have been on the wrong side of the system. That is inappropriate.’

Many fans of the politician refuted that she had flip-flopped on her attendance at the criminal justice forum

Many fans of the politician refuted that she had flip-flopped on her attendance at the criminal justice forum

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk