Politics

FLASHBACK: Clinton’s ‘Super-Predator’ Comment Damages Her Credibility On Criminal Justice Reform

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

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Russ Read Pentagon/Foreign Policy Reporter
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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton touted criminal justice reform that would help alleviate the high incarceration rates of Black youth during Monday night’s presidential debate, but 20 years ago she referred to young black men as heartless “super-predators.”

“They are not just gangs of kids anymore. They are often the kinds of kids that are called ‘super-predators’ — no conscience, no empathy,” said Clinton, during a campaign speech for her husband’s 1996 re-election at Kent State University. “We can talk about why they ended up that way but first we have to bring them to heel.”

Clinton was called out by a Black Lives Matter protester at a private event in February, who said “I’m not a super-predator, Hillary Clinton.”

Clinton later walked back on her comment while appearing with NBC News’ Chuck Todd in February.

“Oh, look I’ve said that was a poor choice of words … never used it before, never used it since,” said Clinton. “And looking back I shouldn’t have used those words, I certainly wouldn’t use them today.”

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