Super Predators Comment – Fact Check
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Trump’s Allegation
Trump stated, “He did a crime bill, 1994, where you called them super predators. African Americans. Super predators. And they’ve never forgotten it. They’ve never forgotten it.” This claim misrepresents Biden’s stance and statements from that period.
Origins of the Term
The term “super predators” was infamously used by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton in a 1996 speech in New Hampshire. Clinton was advocating for the 1994 crime bill, a piece of legislation that has since faced significant criticism for contributing to mass incarceration, particularly of Black men.
Biden’s Actual Statements
In contrast to Trump’s claim, Joe Biden did not refer to African Americans as “super predators.” In a 1993 speech, Biden did warn of “predators on our streets” who were “beyond the pale” while supporting the crime bill. However, he did not label African Americans with the term “super predators.”
Context and Impact
The 1994 crime bill has been heavily criticized in recent years for its role in escalating mass incarceration. Critics argue that the bill disproportionately affected Black men and contributed to systemic inequalities within the criminal justice system.
Conclusion
Trump’s claim that Biden called African Americans “super predators” is false. While Biden supported the 1994 crime bill, he did not use the term “super predators” to describe African Americans and explicitly rejected this theory in later statements.