Thread by @AsteadWesley

The optics of a Kamala Harris rally: White protesters in BLM and Wu-Tang shirts outside the Charleston gymnasium, protesting her criminal justice record.

First looks at a Harris stump speech:

-- Reoccurring theme: "Truth and Justice."

-- Coming from Warren, Harris is much more focused on drawing contrasts w/ Trump

-- "Racism, sexism, antisemitism, homophobia, transphobia are real in this country. Let's speak those truths."

"The strength of our nation is that we are aspirational...but we are also clear eyed. We have not always achieved those ideals," Harris says

Says strength of America is we've fought to achieve ideals

"We are better than this. There is so much we can do and we'll do it together"

Moderator mentions Walter Scott and asks Harris asked what she would do to stop gun violence

-- close Charleston loophole
-- says taking guns away and gun control is a "false choice" (another catchphrase)
-- universal background check
-- assault weapons ban

Harris asked how she'd lower US incarceration rate and raise graduation rate:

"There is a direct relationship between public education and public safety.

&

"We've put more emphasis on incarceration than educating our children."

Mentions racial disparities among incarcerated

ok everyone. they weren't paid protesters. they are local leftist activists who had previously protested booker in charleston. they like tulsi and bernie