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Bernie Sanders' Criminal Reform Plans Are Catching Up With His Radical Economic Platform
Most candidates push criminal reform packages that often lack the requisite muscle to make a dent in a system that warehouses black and brown people with reckless abandon. But Sen. Bernie Sanders’ plan to tackle some of the more contentious elements of the criminal legal system is just as radical as his economic policies—starting with…
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Marianne Williamson Explains Her Controversial Views on Prescription Drugs and Why Black People Should Vote for Her
During her sitdown interview with The Root, Marianne Williamson balked at suggestions that her dearth of experience in electoral politics makes her unqualified to be in the White House, saying that “Politicians are not the only people who sit around and have significant conversations about America” (00:55) and added that, “Very experienced politicians took us…
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Democratic Debates, Day 2: Andrew Yang Won the Night, Castro Shined, Biden and Harris Didn’t Perform Well
FLINT, Mich.—Just an hour away from the debate stage in Detroit where 10 candidates made their cases to the nation as to why they should be the next president of the United States, several dozen residents sat at the Flint Development Center waiting to see who would earn their support. They are still reeling over…
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Live Blog: From Detroit, the Democratic Debates, Night 2
DETROIT—Greetings from Flint! The Root is at the Flint Development Center live-blogging the second night of debates, where the organization Black Voters Matter is holding a debate forum with locals watching the debate on the big screen. Everyone will obviously be looking for the showdown between Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and former Vice President Joe…
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Democratic Debates, Day 1: Elizabeth Warren Came to Detroit and Caught a Body
DETROIT—Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was supposed to come to Detroit and prove to this mostly black city why its residents should trust her with their votes. She was supposed to present a vision of economic hope that would convince black women here, who are often impoverished heads of households and suffer disproportionate infant mortality rates,…
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Live Blog: From Detroit, the Democratic Debates, Night 1
Greetings from Detroit! The Root is here in the Motor City live-blogging the first night of debates from the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, where the organization Black Voters Matter held a pre-debate forum with residents of Detroit, moderated by CNN commentator Angela Rye. Senior reporter Terrell Jermaine Starr is on location…
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Dems Descend on Detroit for Round 2 of Presidential Debates
DETROIT—Here in the Motor City, locals are looking for Democratic candidates to prove one thing: Can you beat Donald Trump? This is not a question germane to Detroit—indeed, Trump is wildly unpopular with black people nationally—but what makes this city particularly vital is that it is the biggest black city in America that, at one…
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Kamala Harris and AOC Introduce Legislation That Protects Formerly Incarcerated People Against Federal Housing Discrimination
U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is introducing a bill Wednesday with freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) that aims to protect people with criminal records from discriminatory policies in federal housing. According to Sen. Harris’s office, the Fair Chance at Housing Act is designed to cut down on recidivism by helping ex-offenders secure…
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Beto O'Rourke Says All Americans Must Understand History of Slavery Before Cash Reparations Can Be Pursued
Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke told The Root in an on-camera interview that all Americans need to understand the story of slavery before the government considers cash reparations for descendants of slaves. “I would support those steps that would allow us to repair the damage done and to stop visiting this kind of injustice on future…
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Julián Castro Wants to Stop Police Brutality by Getting Rid of Qualified Immunity
“Qualified immunity” refers to one of the most powerful federal laws that protects police officers from personal liability in cases of deadly force. But if Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro has his way, the doctrine will be scrapped if he becomes president. Last week, Castro introduced his “People First Policing Plan” which outlines how he…
