Concerning racism: An open request of our two candidates to answer some questions

[Beowulf]

Hillary Clinton at this week's town hall meeting called on all Americans to make a contribution towards addressing racism in our country. Since this is an election year, I would like to know what contributions our two candidates are willing to make should either of them become president. I have some specific questions that would help me to know how much of their own political capital they are willing to expend on this issue.

1. Secretary Clinton, Senator Sanders, both of you supported the 1994 Crime Bill. That bill was an omnibus of different pieces of legislation. Could you please explain in detail your thinking at the time for supporting that bill accounting for the wide range of issues that bill attempted to address?

2. Could you please explain in detail your thinking today about that bill? What did it get right? What did it get wrong? What would your version of a 2017 crime bill include?

3. Will you stop the flow of military grade equipment to police departments?

4. Will you direct the Justice Department to investigate aggressively and indict if the evidence warrants police shootings as hate crimes?

5. Will you direct the Justice Department to investigate aggressively and indict police departments and the elected officials who oversee them for civil rights violations when a pattern of racist behavior and cover-up emerge?

6. Will you call on Rahm Emmanuel to resign as mayor of Chicago for covering up the police murder of Laquan McDonald? Will you ask the Justice Department to investigate Mayor Emmanuel for civil rights violations?

This is not an inclusive list of questions by any means, but I think it is important to get the candidates on the record for tangible, meaningful actions they would do, actions that are going to require courage and sincere conviction.

[Uncle Joe]

1. The OP video and post #5 on this thread may answer some of your questions.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511340079

As for questions 3 & 4 Bernie has stated explicitly to the affirmative, while also stating he supports community policing which reflects the demographics of the communities they will be serving.

As an extension of that I'm convinced Bernie would also carry out question 5 to the affirmative.

Bernie has rebuked Emmanuel but to my not knowledge hasn't called for Emmanuel's resignation but as President, I believe Bernie would be more likely to investigate the matter.

Bernie Sanders rebuked embattled Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in his city

Sanders, a senator from Vermont, campaigned for Emanuel’s opponent in last spring’s mayoral race and called for changes in the U.S. policing strategies to ensure "lethal force should be a last option, not a first option."

His comments appeared to be a direct reference to the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, an African-American who was shot 16 times by Jason Van Dyke, a white Chicago police officer who has been charged with murder.

"If the question is whether I want or need Rahm Emanuel’s support for president, the answer – in all due respect to the mayor - (is) no, I don’t," Sanders told reporters.

(snip)

Sanders appeared alongside Emanuel's vanquished 2015 mayoral opponent, Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, and a Democratic state lawmaker, Representative La Shawn Ford, who has sponsored legislation in Illinois to permit voters to recall Chicago's mayor. A young person stood behind Sanders during his media conference wearing a t-shirt that said: "Rahm Failed Us."

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-sanders-says-he-doesnt-need-chicago-mayors-backing-to-reach-white-house-2015-12

Thanks for the thread, Beowulf.

[Beowulf]

2. Kick

I'd really like to try to generate some discussion.