Kanye West Weeps At First Presidential Rally, Decries Abortion, Pornography

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Agency Report — Rapper Kanye West ranted against abortion and pornography, argued policy with attendees and at one point broke down in tears, at his first presidential rally in South Carolina.

West, 43, a former supporter of President Donald Trump has left voters befuddled over whether his campaign is genuine or a publicity stunt to help sell albums or merchandise.

At the rally in Charleston’s wedding venue and convention centre, he largely rambled in his speech that lasted just over an hour.Rapper Kanye West

Read also: Trump Raises More Campaign Cash Than Rival, Biden

He denounced abortion, swore, called on random members to speak, appeared to be putting forward policy proposals on the fly.

He made comments that left even those in attendance muttering in disbelief.

“Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves. She just had the slaves work for other white people,” he said at one point when discussing economic inequality.

Read also: Kanye West Breaks Ranks With Trump, Vows To Win Presidential Race

The event, which was livestreamed on YouTube and carried on local television stations, did little to clarify whether West is genuinely attempting to win the presidency.

The campaign he launched with a July 4 tweet has already missed several deadlines to appear on key state ballots.

At times, he even seemed to suggest he was more interested in disseminating a message than winning the presidency.

“Freedom does not come from an election. The freedom comes from you not loading up the pornography. The freedom comes from you not taking the Percoset,” he said at one point.

West appeared on stage with “2020” shaved into the back of his head and wearing what appeared to be a military-style vest.

He argued that abortion should be legal but heavily discouraged, suggesting he would promote a policy as president that anyone who gives birth to a child be given $1 million “or something in that family.”

West referred to the Bible and Christian teachings multiple times, and broke down in tears at one point while describing how he was nearly aborted by his parents.

“The only thing that can free us is by obeying the rules that were given to us for a promised land,” he said.

“Abortion should be legal because guess what? The law is not by God anyway, so what is legality?”

The event carried few similarities with typical polished candidate events.

The venue appeared to lack audience microphones, so West repeatedly told the crowd to be silent so audience members he called on could be heard.

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

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