This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/10/julian-castro-reparations-descendants-slaves

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Julián Castro will not rule out reparations to descendants of slaves Julián Castro will not rule out reparations to descendants of slaves
(about 20 hours later)
The Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro will not rule out direct payments to African Americans in reparation for the legacy of slavery – a stand that separates him from his 2020 rivals.The Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro will not rule out direct payments to African Americans in reparation for the legacy of slavery – a stand that separates him from his 2020 rivals.
Joe Biden tops 2020 Iowa Democratic presidential poll ahead of SandersJoe Biden tops 2020 Iowa Democratic presidential poll ahead of Sanders
“If under the constitution we compensate people because we take their property, why wouldn’t you compensate people who actually were property,” the Obama-era housing secretary and former mayor of San Antonio told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.“If under the constitution we compensate people because we take their property, why wouldn’t you compensate people who actually were property,” the Obama-era housing secretary and former mayor of San Antonio told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday.
Castro was among a pack of 2020 candidates to speak this weekend at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, in one of the biggest gatherings of the Democratic field yet.Castro was among a pack of 2020 candidates to speak this weekend at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, in one of the biggest gatherings of the Democratic field yet.
Other candidates are discussing the benefits of tax credits and other subsidies rather than direct payments for the labor and legal oppression of slaves and their descendants. The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, for example, wants to put resources such as Medicare for All and tuition-free college into distressed communities.Other candidates are discussing the benefits of tax credits and other subsidies rather than direct payments for the labor and legal oppression of slaves and their descendants. The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, for example, wants to put resources such as Medicare for All and tuition-free college into distressed communities.
Castro said he did not think that was the proper argument against reparations.Castro said he did not think that was the proper argument against reparations.
“It’s interesting to me,” he said, “that when it comes to Medicare for All, healthcare, the response there has been, ‘We need to write a big check’. That when it comes to tuition-free or debt-free college, the answer has been, ‘We need to write a big check.’“It’s interesting to me,” he said, “that when it comes to Medicare for All, healthcare, the response there has been, ‘We need to write a big check’. That when it comes to tuition-free or debt-free college, the answer has been, ‘We need to write a big check.’
If we compensate people because we take their property, why wouldn’t you compensate people who actually were property?If we compensate people because we take their property, why wouldn’t you compensate people who actually were property?
“And so, if the issue is compensating the descendants of slaves, I don’t think that the argument about writing a big check ought to be the argument that you make, if you’re making an argument that a big check needs to be written for a whole bunch of other stuff.”“And so, if the issue is compensating the descendants of slaves, I don’t think that the argument about writing a big check ought to be the argument that you make, if you’re making an argument that a big check needs to be written for a whole bunch of other stuff.”
He did not say that if elected he would push for direct compensation to descendants of slaves, saying instead he would appoint a commissioner or task force to make recommendations. He did not say that if elected he would push for direct compensation to descendants of slaves, saying instead he would appoint a commissioner or taskforce to make recommendations.
On Saturday night, a Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa poll concerning the Democratic field put Castro at 1% support. The poll winner, former vice-president Joe Biden, at 27%, has not yet declared his candidacy.On Saturday night, a Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa poll concerning the Democratic field put Castro at 1% support. The poll winner, former vice-president Joe Biden, at 27%, has not yet declared his candidacy.
Castro told CNN he was “articulating a strong, compelling vision for the future of this country” and said he could tell he was “going to gain traction”.Castro told CNN he was “articulating a strong, compelling vision for the future of this country” and said he could tell he was “going to gain traction”.
Julian CastroJulian Castro
US elections 2020US elections 2020
US politicsUS politics
DemocratsDemocrats
RaceRace
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content