Wisconsin's first African American Lieutenant Governor says Joe Biden's running mate is committed to "fairness and justice."
TMJ4's Charles Benson talked with Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes about the Biden's historic choice of Kamala Harris.
Benson: Give me your first-word reaction that Kamala Harris was now going to be Joe Biden's running mate?
Lt. Gov, Barnes: Yeah, my first reaction was thinking about Joe Biden's commitment to building an inclusive America.
Her commitment to equality, fairness, and justice and take on the same sex marriage ban people remember and know her as someone who's been a fighter.
Before becoming a U.S. Senator - Harris was a prosecutor and Attorney General in California. Her previous views on law enforcement and police reform after George Floyd's murder are now part of her record.
In June, she told the New York Times: "We do have to reimagine what public safety looks like. And here's the thing. It is status quo thinking to believe that putting more police on the streets creates more safety. That's wrong. It's just wrong."
The Times also reporting that in 2009 Harris wrote in her book Smart on Crime: "If we take a show of hands of those who would like to see more police officers on the street, mine would shoot up," adding that "virtually all law-abiding citizens feel safer when they see officers walking a beat."
Benson: When you hear those two different quotes. It sounds like two different people?
Lt Gov. Barnes: Yeah and that speaks to my previous point about meeting the moment. This is her in 2009, and we're looking at her in 2020. That is 11 years a lot of time for growth. I'm happy that this is now her public opinion versus what her public opinion was back in 2009 and so that shows the trajectory of her thought process on the ideals of Justice in America."
Senator Tammy Baldwin, who was mentioned early on as a possible running mate said on Twitter: "Kamala is an inspiring and historic choice..."