Presidential candidate Kamala Harris made some bold statements in an interview on Tuesday, calling for the decriminalization of sex work and labeling President Trump a racist. “When you're talking about consenting adults, I think that yes, we should really consider that we can't criminalize consensual behavior, as long as no one is being harmed," Senator Harris, D-Calif., told The Root. "But at the point that anyone is being harmed or exploited, then we have to understand that's a different matter." When asked if she thought sex work should be decriminalized, Harris said: “I think so. I do.” She added, however, that the issue “is not as simple as that.” “There is an ecosystem around that, that includes crimes that harm people,” Harris said. “I do not believe that anybody who hurts another human being or profits off of their exploitation should be ... free of criminal prosecution." Interviewer Terrell Jermaine Starr also asked Harris, “Is President Trump a racist?” “Well look, when you talk about his statement [responding to the violence protests in Charlottesville, Virginia], when you talk about him calling African countries ‘s---hole’ countries, when you talk about him referring to immigrants as racists and murderers, I don’t think you can reach any other conclusions,” Harris responded Starr asked Harris again if she “definitely” agreed that the president was a racist. “I do, yes. Yes.” Harris said. White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere responded Tuesday night: “The Senator’s claims are disgusting. President Trump has supported and passed historic criminal justice reform, pushed policies that have created the lowest unemployment rates for African Americans and Hispanic Americans in history, and repeatedly condemned racism and bigotry.” For his part, in discussing his comments about undocumented immigrants being “murderers” and “rapists,” Trump has insisted he was talking specifically about MS-13 gang members and criminals. But the issue that has garnered Trump the lion's share of criticism may be his reaction to the Charlottesville protests, during which neo-Nazis and white nationalists in Charlottesville marched and a counterprotester was fatally hit by a car. OPINION: THIS IS TRUMP'S BEST MESSAGE GOING INTO 2020 (AND HE DIDN'T EVEN WRITE IT) “I think there is blame on both sides,” Trump said in August 2017. “To equate the ‘both sides’ gave me an incredible amount of pain and concern,” Harris told The Root about the president’s reaction. Harris is not the first presidential candidate to call Trump a racist. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., did so last month. Starr also asked Harris if it was worthwhile to pursue the votes of Americans who voted for Trump “despite all the racist things he has said.” “I’m going to compete for every vote; not everybody will vote for me, but I’m going to compete for every vote,” Harris said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Harris said she has rejected the idea America was a “postracial" society for years. “Race is still a big issue in America,” Harris said. Fox News' John Roberts contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Sen. Kamala Harris says she supports making sex work legal across the country — echoing recent calls for legalization from New York state lawmakers. The 2020 presidential hopeful was asked by The Root in an interview published Tuesday whether she thinks “sex work ought to be decriminalized.” To which she responded: “I think so, I do.” “There is an ecosystem around that that includes crimes that harm people, and for those issues I do not believe that anybody who hurts another human being or profits off their exploitation should be free of criminal prosecution,” she was quoted as saying. “But when you’re talking about consenting adults, yes [it should be legal]. We shouldn’t consider that you can criminalize consensual behavior, as long as no one is being harmed.” The former California attorney general was blasted by some sex workers for her recent support of an anti-sex-trafficking law that resulted in the shutdown of personal ad sites like Backpage, where many sex workers used to peddle their wares and screen Johns. see also Trump signs law against online sex trafficking President Trump signed the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act into... “Backpage was providing advertisements for the sale of children. Of minors,” Harris said. “And so I called for them to be shut down. And I have no regrets about that.” Harris’ call to decriminalize sex work came as New York state Sens. Jessica Ramos, Julia Salazar, Brad Hoylman and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried said they’re working to introduce a bill to do just that in the Empire State. “Decriminalization is critical to protecting the rights and safety of people who trade sex, no matter where they are on the spectrum of choice, circumstance, and coercion,” Hoylman tweeted Monday. The lawmakers are working with a new coalition called DecrimNY, which aims to “decriminalize, decarcerate and destigmatize the sex trade in New York City and state,” according to its website.<doc-sep>Few other Democratic presidential hopefuls have enjoyed as splashy a start as Ms. Harris has: She drew 20,000 people to her formal campaign launch in Oakland, Calif.; raised $1.5 million in her first full day in the race; and has been talked about on social media more than any of her rivals, vaulting to the top tier of the rapidly growing field. But the candidate is still catching up to the campaign — and not just on health care policy. On issues ranging from breaking up big technology companies to the crisis in Venezuela to reparations for African-Americans — and even the allegations against the actor Jussie Smollett — Ms. Harris has not offered positions when asked, had to clarify her views and softened her previous comments. It is hardly unusual for candidates to stumble or appear ill at ease at the outset of the grueling political crucible that is a presidential campaign; even former President Barack Obama, who is remembered as a political phenom, struggled at times in the early weeks of the 2008 campaign. [Make sense of the people, issues and ideas shaping American politics with our newsletter.] But the scrutiny has grown even more intense since that race, and the margin for error is minuscule in a field with so many candidates. With the growth of political news outlets, the rise of social media, and the global interest surrounding President Trump and his re-election, high-profile candidates do not have the luxury of honing their stump speeches before a few dozen voters, and even fewer reporters, in a cozy Concord living room.<doc-sep>
Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisBiden, Bass press for police reform after meeting Floyd family Biden, Harris condemn surge in antisemitic incidents Mexican president: FAA safety downgrade meant to benefit US carriers MORE (D-Calif.) says that she supports the decriminalization of sex work nationwide, noting that "we can't criminalize consensual behavior as long as no one is being harmed." In an interview with The Root, Harris was asked whether sex work "ought to be decriminalized," though the interviewer did not specify at which level. "I do," Harris responded. "I think that we have to understand, though, that it is not as simple as that. ... There's an ecosystem around that, that involves crimes that harm people. And for those issues, I do not believe that anybody who hurts another human being or profits off of their exploitation should be ... free of criminal prosecution. "But when you're talking about consenting adults? Yes, we should really consider that we can't criminalize consensual behavior as long as no one is being harmed," she added. ADVERTISEMENT Harris also explained her support for the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) in the interview, which sex workers and advocates argued shut down online platforms such as Backpage.com and others which workers used to screen clients and establish safer working procedures. "I was advocating [15 years ago] that we have to stop arresting these prostitutes and start going after the johns and the pimps, because we were criminalizing the women," Harris told The Root. "Backpage was providing advertisements for the sale of children. Of minors," she added, responding to the criticism of the shuttering of Backpage.com. "And so I called for them to be shut down. And I have no regrets about that." Harris announced her candidacy for the White House in 2020 last month and joined a crowded and growing field of Democrats including her fellow Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSenate competitiveness bill includes B authorization for Bezos space company Sanders wants government to get 'piece' of US semiconductor companies in exchange for aid Poll: 51 percent oppose Sanders-led resolution to block weapons sales to Israel MORE (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOn The Money: Biden administration launches trade dispute against Canadian dairy industry | Warren urges Biden to replace Fed's Quarles Warren urges Biden to replace Fed's Quarles in testy exchange Warren offers bill to increase IRS budget to .5 billion MORE (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandDemocratic feud erupts over scope of military sexual assault bill Overnight Defense: Austin, Bidens thank National Guard as Capitol mission ends | CBO estimates nuclear arsenal to cost 4B over 10 years | Senate Armed Services chairman backs change in prosecuting military sexual assault Senate Armed Services chair throws support behind changing roles of military commanders in sexual assault prosecutions MORE (D-N.Y.). Along with Warren, Harris has also endorsed some form of reparations for black Americans affected by the legacy of slavery. "We have to be honest that people in this country do not start from the same place or have access to the same opportunities," Harris told The New York Times last week. "I’m serious about taking an approach that would change policies and structures and make real investments in black communities."