Law professor & San Francisco public defender debate Kamala Harris's record as a prosecutor in CA

As Senator Kamala Harris is announced as Joe Biden's vice-presidential pick, we host a debate on her record as California attorney general and San Francisco district attorney. Niki Solis, San Francisco Public Defender, holds that "she was the most progressive prosecutor in California," while Lara Bazelon, a professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law, says Harris supported a number of "regressive" policies during her time as attorney general and DA. "Her office fought tooth and nail to uphold wrongful convictions, that in some cases kept innocent people in prison," Bazelon notes, adding however that Harris has shifted her views on many of her former positions around criminal justice issues, policing and the legality of marijuana. "She’s taken to the streets after the killing of George Floyd. She has stood up for marginalized people. And she has been a very, very strong voice on the importance of racial justice."

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[peregrineslim]

It's always easy to support reforms after you've left an office where it was actually up to you to implement them.

[ulitmategamer]

so in other words since seeking high political office she has adjusted her stance on all her previous political stance

[iversonmatthew]

I hate it when people piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining.

[jessewood]

No mention of her comment about using prison labor as a "cheap source of labor".

[shumeister]

Is it really democracy, when one is limited to only two terrible choices?

[discogodfather]

From SF, we all hated her here. Literally a just another corporate stooge cop, Harris is toxic to anyone who works for a living.

[BigMike]

Tulsi Gabbard totally exposes Kamala in the primaries

[RolandDuke]

We can’t even get competent leaders in this country.

[mikemaloney]

Watch DN slowly decide that this woman is a progressive. They're already laying the groundwork.

[bwp]

Her opinions change based on what job she is trying to get.. Fuxk that.. It's a no for me.. I'm staying home again

[spydirty]

2 extremely flawed candidates on the same ticket is the solution to the mess we’re in. Got it

[scasey]

I’m voting for a third party candidate. Sorry DNC & GOP.

[NA-qups]

we have been forced to two bad choices, time to move for a third, workers, party.we have nothing to loose.

[JimJWalker]

...and her sister was a chief advisor to HRC failed 2016 bid. Where is Harris' allegiance?

[MGnola]

Niki Solis made Lara Bazelon look silly - some outsider with a couple issues on appellate cases, that are not true, versus a seasoned and passionate SF Public Defender that actually knows the work that Harris did as far as restorative justice. Not much of a debate but bravo Niki Solis, for setting the record straight.

[humanseeksjustice]

Democracy Now is becomming right wing or moderate news, , ? Used to be v left wing. What happened?

[Dino.]

1994 crime bill NEVER FORGET AND NEVER FORGIVE.

[michaeldob]

So the moral of the story is that kamala can switch positions and do a 180 when it suits her.

[JMacSonic]

That dude behind her in the thumbnail looks like he's wearing some Martian attire. Nanoo nanoo (I know it's her chair ..)

[eetdarichmarx]

This ticket is a neo-liberal nightmare.