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| After Blackface, Justin Trudeau Struggles to Change Conversation | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| OTTAWA — Two days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s re-election campaign was upended by the disclosure of old photographs and a video of him in blackface and brownface makeup, he tried to change the conversation, announcing a ban on military-style rifles in Canada. | OTTAWA — Two days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s re-election campaign was upended by the disclosure of old photographs and a video of him in blackface and brownface makeup, he tried to change the conversation, announcing a ban on military-style rifles in Canada. |
| It didn’t quite work. | It didn’t quite work. |
| At the announcement on Friday, in Toronto, the prime minister was asked about a report in La Presse, the Montreal newspaper, that campaign officials expected more embarrassing images would surface. | At the announcement on Friday, in Toronto, the prime minister was asked about a report in La Presse, the Montreal newspaper, that campaign officials expected more embarrassing images would surface. |
| “I have nothing to confirm on that,” Mr. Trudeau told reporters. | “I have nothing to confirm on that,” Mr. Trudeau told reporters. |
| Earlier this week, Mr. Trudeau acknowledged that on multiple occasions in his past, he had worn either blackface or brownface makeup. | Earlier this week, Mr. Trudeau acknowledged that on multiple occasions in his past, he had worn either blackface or brownface makeup. |
| One example was in a video from the early 1990s, when he was filmed wearing blackface and an Afro wig, waving his arms and sticking out his tongue. On Thursday, he said he had forgotten about that video because he had led a privileged life that came “with a massive blind spot.” | One example was in a video from the early 1990s, when he was filmed wearing blackface and an Afro wig, waving his arms and sticking out his tongue. On Thursday, he said he had forgotten about that video because he had led a privileged life that came “with a massive blind spot.” |
| But at the Toronto announcement, he said the video was recorded during a dress-up day for river guides between 1992 and 1994, when he was working at a white-water rafting company. He again apologized for his behavior. | But at the Toronto announcement, he said the video was recorded during a dress-up day for river guides between 1992 and 1994, when he was working at a white-water rafting company. He again apologized for his behavior. |
| “I know there are Canadians, many, many Canadians, that I have deeply hurt with the choices I made,” Mr. Trudeau said in Toronto. “I am going to work very hard to demonstrate that as an individual I will continue to stand against intolerance and racism.” | “I know there are Canadians, many, many Canadians, that I have deeply hurt with the choices I made,” Mr. Trudeau said in Toronto. “I am going to work very hard to demonstrate that as an individual I will continue to stand against intolerance and racism.” |
| [Read more about why blackface persists.] | [Read more about why blackface persists.] |
| Whether or not additional embarrassing images surface, with Canadians set to vote in a national election on Oct. 21, Mr. Trudeau must salvage what remains of his reputation as a champion of racial and ethnic diversity in Canada, as well as a defender of minority rights. | Whether or not additional embarrassing images surface, with Canadians set to vote in a national election on Oct. 21, Mr. Trudeau must salvage what remains of his reputation as a champion of racial and ethnic diversity in Canada, as well as a defender of minority rights. |