‘I’ll Use Federal Dollars for Slavery Reparations’ – RFK Jr Makes Bold Promises Regarding Reparations, Prison, and the Police

William FurneyOct 27, 2023

Minute Read

Robert F Kennedy Jr continues to cause shockwaves around the American political system after his surprise announcement in early October that he was forsaking his traditional Democratic Party and running in the 2024 presidential election as an independent candidate. Now, in a bombshell new announcement, he wants to give federal money to the descendants of slaves.

A Disruptive Force

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RFK Jr threatens to upend the presidential race, should the incumbent, President Joe Biden, be chosen as the Democratic choice in primaries starting early next year. And if former president Donald Trump becomes the Republican Party candidate.

Democrats’ RFK Jr Fears

Democrats are worried that swing voters and even some among the hardcore party faithful might be swayed by the charismatic if controversial RFK Jr and vote for him over Biden — if he’s selected as the Democratic candidate — thereby eroding support for their nominee.

Addressing Racial Inequality in the US

RFK Jr, 69 and the son of assassinated senator Robert F. Kennedy, says in a section on his election website titled “Racial Healing” that he wants to remedy racial inequality in the United States. Black people, he says, are still behind the rest of the population regarding education, income, infant mortality, home ownership, health and life expectancy.

‘Legacy of Racism’

The environmental lawyer said he believes that racial inequality around the US was an “unacceptable situation” that is “the result of the unhealed legacy of racism in this country.”

‘Healing the Wounds of History”

The newly announced campaign promise continues: “We must take direct action to remedy it — not only for the sake of Black people, but for the wellbeing of the entire nation.” RFK Jr “will appeal not to guilt and blame, but to the conscience of Americans of all races who want to repair the wounds of history.”

Making Amends for Racial Past

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Among the measures for addressing racial inequality and a racial history that a President Kennedy would make is “targeted community repair.”

Federal Funds for Black Rebuilding

The campaign vow says: “Communities that were specifically targeted for destruction need to be specifically targeted for repair. During Jim Crow, Black banks, businesses, hospitals, schools, and farms were targeted for destruction. Racists knew that without these, the Black community had no chance of building wealth. We must set federal dollars aside to rebuild Black infrastructure.”

Other Measures

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The RFK Jr campaign says it would also address prison reform when working towards racial equality. The candidate would “reorient the prison system around rehabilitation rather than punishment” and his “policy will be tough in the sense of keeping violent people where they can do no further harm, but generous in recognizing the fundamental desire of most human beings to live meaningful lives and contribute to society.”

Reform of Police

Police reform was another area a President Kennedy would look into, in making American society more balanced, the campaign said, along with helping the working class and poor with schemes including tax credit, child care and buying homes.

‘Crumbling Schools’

The campaign said it would fix what it called “the shameful decrepitude of the schools in the cities and inner suburbs,” and it would also expand youth programs to give young black people better opportunities.

Free Universal ID

The independent candidate would also, his campaign said, provide free IDs for all Americans, if he gets to the White House.

“Today, many marginalized people lack a government-issued ID, locking them out of the banking system, schools, and many other social institutions. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will make free passport cards available to anyone who wants one,” it said.

Positive View of RFK Jr

More Americans have a favorable opinion of RFK Jr — whose uncle was assassinated president John F. Kennedy — than not, according to a poll of recent polls that puts him in a positive light among 41.1 percent of voters. That compares with 33.5 percent who don’t think much of the candidate.

Trump and Biden Level

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President Biden and Trump are equal in terms of voter support, at 37 percent, according to a new poll by USA Today and Suffolk University that gave RFK Jr 13 percent. Trump would have been ahead of Biden had those who took part in the survey not switched to RFK Jr, USA Today said, thereby costing him the lead — and a scenario that could also play out on election day next November 5.

Controversial Candidate

RFK’s run for the White House is likely to be clouded among contentious views he holds, including that he’s an “anti-vaxxer” who suggested that parents not give their children the Covid-19 vaccination during the pandemic over health problems it might later lead to.