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| Trudeau Tries to Change Conversation From Blackface. It Doesn’t Quite Work. | Trudeau Tries to Change Conversation From Blackface. It Doesn’t Quite Work. |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada wanted to talk about something else. | OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada wanted to talk about something else. |
| That didn’t quite work out. | That didn’t quite work out. |
| At an event in Toronto — days after his re-election campaign was upended by the disclosure of photographs and a video of him in brownface and blackface makeup — he announced a ban on military-style rifles in Canada and support for allowing cities to prohibit handguns. | At an event in Toronto — days after his re-election campaign was upended by the disclosure of photographs and a video of him in brownface and blackface makeup — he announced a ban on military-style rifles in Canada and support for allowing cities to prohibit handguns. |
| But the images quickly became the topic of conversation. First he was asked about a report in La Presse, the Montreal newspaper, that campaign officials expected more embarrassing pictures would surface. | But the images quickly became the topic of conversation. First he was asked about a report in La Presse, the Montreal newspaper, that campaign officials expected more embarrassing pictures would surface. |
| “I have nothing to confirm on that,” Mr. Trudeau told reporters. | “I have nothing to confirm on that,” Mr. Trudeau told reporters. |
| Then he was asked about the video, which shows him wearing blackface and an Afro wig, waving his arms and sticking out his tongue. | Then he was asked about the video, which shows him wearing blackface and an Afro wig, waving his arms and sticking out his tongue. |
| The previous day he said that he did not remember it because he led a privileged life that came “with a massive blind spot.” | The previous day he said that he did not remember it because he led a privileged life that came “with a massive blind spot.” |
| But on Friday, he said that 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. And he again apologized for his behavior. | But on Friday, he said that 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. And 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.” |
| Whether or not additional images surface, with Canadians set to vote in the national election on Oct. 21, Mr. Trudeau is trying to salvage what remains of his reputation as a champion of racial and ethnic diversity, as well as a defender of minority rights. | Whether or not additional images surface, with Canadians set to vote in the national election on Oct. 21, Mr. Trudeau is trying to salvage what remains of his reputation as a champion of racial and ethnic diversity, as well as a defender of minority rights. |
| The pictures “took a cannonball to his reputation,” said Shachi Kurl, the executive director of the Angus Reid Institute, a nonprofit polling organization. “Will this be the thing that now eats away at his political base? Will the perception of him as a tolerant, compassionate prime minister be enough to carry him through this?” | The pictures “took a cannonball to his reputation,” said Shachi Kurl, the executive director of the Angus Reid Institute, a nonprofit polling organization. “Will this be the thing that now eats away at his political base? Will the perception of him as a tolerant, compassionate prime minister be enough to carry him through this?” |
| Mr. Trudeau started his campaign just over a week ago already suffering from a political wound. | Mr. Trudeau started his campaign just over a week ago already suffering from a political wound. |
| His image as a self-proclaimed feminist and someone who promised a new, collaborative approach to politics was badly battered this winter by a dispute with his former justice minister and attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould. Ms. Wilson-Raybould, a former Indigenous chief, accused him and his mostly male aides of bullying her on how to handle a criminal case. | |
| Canadians were left with a broad impression that he and his staff had ganged up on her, and approval ratings for his Liberal Party tanked. | Canadians were left with a broad impression that he and his staff had ganged up on her, and approval ratings for his Liberal Party tanked. |
| Over the summer, the party recovered, and before this week, it was tied in polls with its main opponent, the Conservative Party, led by Andrew Scheer. | Over the summer, the party recovered, and before this week, it was tied in polls with its main opponent, the Conservative Party, led by Andrew Scheer. |
| It is still too early to assess how much damage was caused by the wide publicity about the video as well as two photographs of Mr. Trudeau wearing brownface and a turban at an “Arabian Nights” party in 2001 at a school in British Columbia where he then taught. He has also said he wore blackface when he was in high school, at a musical performance. | It is still too early to assess how much damage was caused by the wide publicity about the video as well as two photographs of Mr. Trudeau wearing brownface and a turban at an “Arabian Nights” party in 2001 at a school in British Columbia where he then taught. He has also said he wore blackface when he was in high school, at a musical performance. |
| But small swings in voting patterns have frequently decided Canadian elections. | But small swings in voting patterns have frequently decided Canadian elections. |
| [Read more about why blackface persists.] | [Read more about why blackface persists.] |
| Mr. Trudeau has been calling Liberals, leaders of community groups and others to apologize since Wednesday, when the first photograph was published. On Friday in Toronto he said he wanted to apologize directly to Jagmeet Singh, the head of the New Democratic Party and the first nonwhite leader of a major national political party in Canada. | Mr. Trudeau has been calling Liberals, leaders of community groups and others to apologize since Wednesday, when the first photograph was published. On Friday in Toronto he said he wanted to apologize directly to Jagmeet Singh, the head of the New Democratic Party and the first nonwhite leader of a major national political party in Canada. |
| But his gun announcement in Toronto was an effort to directly challenge his chief rival, Mr. Scheer. | But his gun announcement in Toronto was an effort to directly challenge his chief rival, Mr. Scheer. |
| Before meeting with reporters, Mr. Trudeau shook hands with voters along a busy Toronto street that was the scene of a mass shooting last year. | Before meeting with reporters, Mr. Trudeau shook hands with voters along a busy Toronto street that was the scene of a mass shooting last year. |
| Then at the announcement, he repeatedly mentioned efforts of the previous Conservative government to roll back some gun control measures, particularly a registry for rifles and shotguns, and said Mr. Scheer will further cut restrictions. | Then at the announcement, he repeatedly mentioned efforts of the previous Conservative government to roll back some gun control measures, particularly a registry for rifles and shotguns, and said Mr. Scheer will further cut restrictions. |
| While expanded gun controls are unpopular in rural areas that largely vote Conservative, the idea is popular in large cities that are Liberal strongholds including Montreal and Toronto. | While expanded gun controls are unpopular in rural areas that largely vote Conservative, the idea is popular in large cities that are Liberal strongholds including Montreal and Toronto. |
| The ban on what he called “military-style assault rifles” would apply nationally and include a program to buy back ones now owned by individuals. | The ban on what he called “military-style assault rifles” would apply nationally and include a program to buy back ones now owned by individuals. |
| Mr. Trudeau emphasized that no further restrictions would be placed on shotguns and rifles for hunting. | Mr. Trudeau emphasized that no further restrictions would be placed on shotguns and rifles for hunting. |
| “We know you do not need a military grade assault weapon, one designed to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time, to take down a deer,” Mr. Trudeau said. | “We know you do not need a military grade assault weapon, one designed to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time, to take down a deer,” Mr. Trudeau said. |
| While Mr. Trudeau has been unable to escape questions from journalists about the offensive images, they have not dominated his exchanges with the general public since Wednesday. | While Mr. Trudeau has been unable to escape questions from journalists about the offensive images, they have not dominated his exchanges with the general public since Wednesday. |
| On Thursday, Mr. Trudeau’s campaign turned a party rally in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, into a town hall event where neither the audience members nor their questions for Mr. Trudeau were vetted. In the ballroom of a castle-like former railway hotel in the city’s downtown, Mr. Trudeau received only one critical question about the images. | On Thursday, Mr. Trudeau’s campaign turned a party rally in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, into a town hall event where neither the audience members nor their questions for Mr. Trudeau were vetted. In the ballroom of a castle-like former railway hotel in the city’s downtown, Mr. Trudeau received only one critical question about the images. |
| Noting that the prime minister had declined to count the number of times he darkened his skin with makeup, a young man said: “I’ll make it easy. Is it possible to round to the nearest five?” As the man high-fived another audience member, Mr. Trudeau said, “I’m not going to make light of the situation.” He again apologized. | Noting that the prime minister had declined to count the number of times he darkened his skin with makeup, a young man said: “I’ll make it easy. Is it possible to round to the nearest five?” As the man high-fived another audience member, Mr. Trudeau said, “I’m not going to make light of the situation.” He again apologized. |
| But most of the other questions were not related. One man, who was wearing a yellow vest, told the prime minister that he had no need to apologize and said, “Let’s not go back digging up bones from 15 years.” After thanking the man, Mr. Trudeau apologized again. | But most of the other questions were not related. One man, who was wearing a yellow vest, told the prime minister that he had no need to apologize and said, “Let’s not go back digging up bones from 15 years.” After thanking the man, Mr. Trudeau apologized again. |
| Earlier on Thursday, as Mr. Trudeau walked around the downtown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, he was warmly received. Several people stopped to pose for selfies with him. | Earlier on Thursday, as Mr. Trudeau walked around the downtown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, he was warmly received. Several people stopped to pose for selfies with him. |
| Mr. Trudeau has rejected suggestions that he should step down as prime minister and Liberal leader. There are no clear public signs that candidates and members of his cabinet are calling for his ouster or that they no longer want him to make campaign appearances on their behalf. | Mr. Trudeau has rejected suggestions that he should step down as prime minister and Liberal leader. There are no clear public signs that candidates and members of his cabinet are calling for his ouster or that they no longer want him to make campaign appearances on their behalf. |
| At Friday’s event in Toronto, the party’s candidates in the area lined up onstage behind him. | At Friday’s event in Toronto, the party’s candidates in the area lined up onstage behind him. |