2020 Democrats discuss race in often stark terms at Detroit debate

The 2020 Democratic candidates discussed race in strong and often stark terms at Tuesday’s debate, reflecting the central role its taking in the primary ahead of next year’s presidential race.

Author Marianne Williamson had perhaps her most memorable answer of the night when discussing racial inequality in America focused on the water crisis in Flint. She said that the situation there represented the “tip of the iceberg,” a city that crystalizes injustices that communities

“We have communities, particularly communities of color and disadvantaged communities, all over this country who are suffering from environmental injustice,” Williamson said.

She went on: “If you think any of this wonkiness is going to deal with this dark psychic force of the collectivized hatred that this president is bringing up in this country, then I’m afraid that the Democrats are going to see some very dark days.”

Read more: A fight among candidates on the debate stage revealed Democrats are more divided on immigration than it might seem

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke brought up the legacy of slavery, saying that the US only reached this point of relative prosperity because black Americans were enslaved. Earlier this month, he acknowledged that his ancestors owned slaves; O’Rourke supports a reparations bill.

“I want to acknowledge something that we’re all touching on which is the very foundation of this country, the wealth that we have built, the way we became the greatest country on the face of the planet was literally on the backs of those who were kidnapped and brought here by force,” O’Rourke said.

Asked how she would confront the increasing violence in America connected to white supremacists, Sen. Elizabeth Warren bluntly called white supremacy “domestic terrorism.”

“We need to call out white supremacy for what it is: domestic terrorism. And it poses a threat to the United States of America,” Warren said.

Other candidates like Sen. Amy Klobuchar said she would try to appeal to Trump voters who may have been motivated by economic anxieties rather than racism.

“There are people that voted for Donald Trump before that aren’t racist, they wanted a better shake in the economy and so I would appeal to them,” Klobuchar said. “But I don’t think anyone can justify what this president is doing.”