COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Rapper Kanye West, in his to start with occasion because declaring himself a presidential prospect, ranted towards historic determine Harriet Tubman on Sunday, indicating the Underground Railroad conductor “never basically freed the slaves, she just experienced them function for other white people today,” comments that drew shouts of opposition from some in the crowd.

West delivered a prolonged monologue, touching on subjects from abortion and religion to international trade and licensing specials, just before a crowd in North Charleston, South Carolina. No matter if he is essentially looking for the nation’s maximum workplace remains a question.

Tubman is 1 of the most revered figures of 19th century America. An African American who escaped slavery, she helped enslaved Black men and women travel north to freedom and fought for the Union through the Civil War. She afterwards turned a supporter of women’s suffrage.

On abortion, West reported that while he thinks it should really be authorized, money incentives to help struggling mothers could be a way to discourage the observe.

“Everybody that has a child receives a million bucks,” he stated as an case in point.

Donning a protective vest and with “2020” shaved into his head, the entertainer appeared on a livestream of the function. Various hundred persons gathered in a location, in which gospel music played ahead of West’s appearance.

The occasion was reportedly for registered company only, while a marketing campaign website experienced no registration or RSVP info.

Speaking without the need of a microphone, West grew to become tearful at just one place even though conversing about his mom, who died adhering to plastic surgical treatment troubles in 2007.

West skipped the deadline to qualify for the ballot in numerous states, and it was unclear if he was willing or capable to accumulate ample signatures essential to qualify in other folks. Last 7 days, he capable to look on Oklahoma’s presidential ballot, the initial state exactly where he achieved the demands in advance of the submitting deadline.

West necessary to obtain 10,000 signatures by noon Monday to surface on the South Carolina ballot, in accordance to point out legislation. The entertainer tweeted out a record of areas around the Charleston space wherever petitions could be signed. E mail to an address purportedly connected with the campaign was not returned Sunday afternoon.

West, who is married to truth tv star Kim Kardashian West, initially declared his candidacy on July 4.

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP