Thread by @TondaMacC

Trudeau has emerged, is now speaking, but is talking more frankly about how he "didn't understand the racist history of blackface"...so he has now articulated the word blackface, not "makeup".. and racist in the same sentence.

Trudeau says it is never acceptable to darken one's face.
First q about how many times has he darkened his skin with makeup?
Trudeau says he "shared the moments that I recollected."
says he now "appreciates calling it makeup, it was blackface. it was not right."

Trudeau says he did not see the truth of how racist it was "because of the layers of privilege" he comes from, and now realizes it will never be acceptable to wear blackface when there are people out there who live every day confront racism.

Trudeau does not deny there may be other photos or videos.

Trudeau says he'll deal with them as they come up on a case-by-case basis.

Trudeau says he recognizes his acts hurt people for whom he was trying to be an ally.

Asked when he recognized it was wrong, Trudeau talks about working with people, incl in his multi-ethnic riding in Papineau where he says there is even in cities in Canada, "extraordinary intolerance and racism" that people live with every day.

He says the experience of working with them, people in Papineau, that he learned; says "I did not understand the reality and I'm deeply sorry and I know we must all do better as a country but me in particular as a prime minister I must do better."

Trudeau says he never talked about this before, "quite frankly I was embarassed...it's not the leader I wanted to be and it was embarassing."

In French, he repeats that it was embarrassing. Again asked how many incidents are there, that he is or isn't aware of, Trudeau dodges.
Says "I'm wary of being definitive about this because the recent pictures that came out I had not remembered."

Trudeau says he didn't remember because he didn't realize, while he always knew he came from privilege, didn't realize "I had a massive blind spot"...says he dedicated his leadership & service to Canada to confront intolerance & racism...

....but he calls this "personally a moment to reflect" on what that privilege has meant.
"I have to recognize that I was blind to the pain that I may have caused at those times and that I am now causing to people that count on me to defend them."

Asked why he wore blackface more than two times, Trudeau: "it wasn't a good idea" at the time, something "that takes advantage of the reality of something I have not had to live with" ...the reality of being judged for the colour of his skin.

Trudeau: at that time I did not understand the privilege I had of never discriminated against for my religion, the colour of my skin."
(This is a more expansive apology and explanation than he first gave last night. Names the offence clearly, names the insult & impact on people).

He says he has told his colleagues and friends and communities he spoke with that he regrets the "ridiculous choices I made many years ago."

Asked to respond to those who feel it's no big deal, and say why it's serious, Trudeau talks about the everyday discrimination that visible minorities, LGBTQ, or women or Indigenous people feel, says it comes out through micro-aggressions or deliberate challenges.

(This is Trudeau using this as a teachable moment).

Trudeau talks about the reality that many people cannot escape, that he learned about "over the years as I was serving many people of many backgrounds."

Back to the timeline. When did he know about the embarassing images out there of him?

No answer.
"As I say I was embarassed."

"I didn't want to talk about it anymore because I'm not that person anymore."

Trudeau: when we found out TIME magazine was looking for a picture of that event, I told my staff, but ultimately..the buck stops with me. (TIME reported they received the photo earlier this month).

Asked about how his father would have reacted, Trudeau talks about his father raised him to provide counter-weights to centres of power "to put them in service of people who didn't have the opportunity I had."

Trudeau says the conversation with his children this morning was "difficult"...and his father "wouldn't be pleased with how I behaved but perhaps taking responsibility for it was important."

Trudeau says "I regret deeply that (other) parents had to have difficult conversations with their kids because of" his actions that were hurtful.

Asked again when he realized blackface was racist, Trudeau goes back to his earlier answer, that he learned through his time working for people of Papineau.

Asked about the blow to his international reputation, Trudeau goes on about how in Canada, there's "systemic discrimination" that still exists, in our schools, workplaces, communities, racialized Canadians everyday face extra barriers, comments, disparaging remarks...

Trudeau: I am not afraid of standing up in front of the world, Canada is a pretty great country, Canada is the best country in the world but we have a lot of work to do ...

APTN asks him about implementing a national youth suicide strategy, Trudeau talks about the broad needs, inequities that have led to "unacceptable rates of youth suicides"...

Trudeau's now talking about his government's investments in Indigenous languages, culture, child and youth services..says "we need to do much more and we will if we get that opportunity."

Trudeau says his govt made tangible improvements, incl to clean water, new schools, health centres, support for First Nations and Indigenous post-secondary education, & an urban Indigenous strategy.
"There is so much more to do."
(Not clear after this week he'll win the chance.)

@davidakin asks Trudeau if he's not considered that he's not an "indispensable man"..that maybe someone else should lead the party through the elxn.
Trudeau refers only to his conversations last night & today with racialized Cdns, his colleagues; trusts Cdns to make the choice.

@davidakin Asked how the tone of the campaign will change, and whether #LPC will stop digging up dirt on opponents, Trudeau says he'll keep talking up the govt's record and making promises to improve Cdns lives.

@davidakin Trudeau says "we're going to continue to make contrasts with our opponents" and unveil policy and "push back against intolerance and racism every step of the way."

@davidakin Asked how he'll tell people in a mosque or a temple that he fully understands what they go through, Trudeau says he's long thought about that, as he's campaigned in past, "even tho obviously I'm someone who's had tremendous advantages and opportunities in my life."

@davidakin Trudeau says it's an ongoing conversation that "I get to have with Canadians every single day" as he travels across country.

@davidakin (Trudeau's staff have called last question - an annoying tactic to shut it reporters down that began before the '04 campaign, I think under the Martin Liberals, but brought to a new level under Harper Conservatives, and happily used by all party stripes now.)

@davidakin Trudeau outlines some measures he took to deal with anti-black racism, and intolerance of all kinds.
He's done, and Trudeau wades into the crowd that occasionally applauded.