ELDER SPEAKS AT A DURHAM RALLY
Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder spoke to members of the press and several citizens on top of the Oroville Dam in Oroville Sunday.
Dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt, jeans and black shoes, Elder sweated in the 100-degree heat as he walked along the bridge at the top of the dam with Congressman Doug LaMalfa, listening intently to LaMalfa speak.
After thanking LaMalfa for his support, he addressed the small crowd. He spoke mostly about the water shortage in California and how water is mismanaged by the current Newsom administration. He said that people turn on their showers or sink faucets and have no idea where the water is coming from.
He said that he would declare a public emergency if elected in
the Sept. 14 Newsom recall election.
“This is not a bipartisan issue,” he said. “People are angry about crime, homelessness and the failure to manage forests.”
One of the reporters asked Elder how he was going to be able to deal with the wildfire issue with democratic majority in both houses. The other questions that were asked were about the fires and someone asked Elder if he was anti-vax and anti-climate change. Elder made a point of saying that he is not anti-vax and has already been vaccinated.
A man carrying a “No on Qanon’s Recall of Our Governor” sign held the sign up high as the crowd ambled along. At one point, a man wearing a Trump hat waved his hat in front of the sign, slightly blocking it.
Elder stopped to take pictures with a few people and was then whisked away into a black SUV to a rally in Durham Park in
Durham. He spoke to the crowd of at least 400 people standing on a stage in front of a massive American flag.
He spoke about how crime is up in every city in California and violent crime is up 40 to
50 percent. “(Former Senator) Barbara Boxer got mugged!” he said.
Elder also talked about how he has been accused of being a white supremacist.
“Do I look like a white supremacist?” he asked. The crowd emphatically disagreed.
Elder said that 40 percent of black men in America are born to a mother who is not married to the father and this can cause men to become criminals.
He said if a black man is stopped by a police officer, that he should get the license number and badge number of the officer. “So many black men are not compliant,” he said.
“Critical race theory is not the answer,” he said. According to endasianhate. org, the central idea of Critical Race Theory is that racism is institutionalized and is embedded in America’s history, legal systems, and policies. It acknowledges the continuing impacts of slavery and segregation in America and critiques how institutionalized racism perpetuates a caste system that is inherently unequal.
Elder also said he had had a dream where he was at a World War II event and a veteran asked to speak to Gov. Gavin Christopher Newsom. Elder said in response that “we have a new governor, his name is Larry
Elder,” to cheers from the crowd.
After Elder finished his speech, most of the crowd stood up and clapped, chanting “Elder, Elder.” Elder said “Larry, Larry…”
Lucy Boeger of Cherokee attended the rally. She is an Elder supporter.
“He addressed some important issues,” she said. “California keeps going downhill.”
Boeger said she didn’t see any media at the rally and that the rally wasn’t promoted at all.
“I think that was intentional by the media,” she said.
Boeger urges people to vote.
“Go out and vote,” she said. “Pay attention to what is being done and said.”
Boeger has lived in California for 42 years. She said her husband wanted to move to Texas, but doesn’t have the heart to move. Her husband has been a California resident for 77 years.
“He promises that things are going to change,” she said.
After the rally, a large crowd gathered around Elder, taking pictures and videos of him as he slowly made his way to the SUV. Toby Keith music blasted over the loudspeakers. Elder stopped to take pictures with several people, then was again whisked away into the SUV, joining the line of cars leaving the park. He could be seen waving to the crowd as the car slowly rolled away.