Former Clinton aide: Trump campaign normalized racism, sexism

President Donald Trump's presidential campaign normalized racism and sexism, former Hillary Clinton campaign aide Zerlina Maxwell said Wednesday.

Maxwell, who served as director of progressive media for the Democratic candidate, delivered the 21st annual Michael Davis Lecture at Southeast Missouri State University.

"People were really enthusiastic about being openly racist," Maxwell said of some Trump supporters.

"It makes it dangerous for people of color," she said to an audience of about 50 students, faculty and community members at Glenn Auditorium in Dempster Hall.

The crowd included Southeast president Carlos Vargas-Aburto and university regent Tom Meyer.

The lecture honors the late Michael Davis, a journalism student who died as a result of a hazing incident at Southeast in 1994.

Maxwell showed video clips of Trump supporters using profanity against blacks and Muslims at campaign rallies.

Trump's campaign fostered sexism, Maxwell said, showing an image of a Trump supporter wearing a T-shirt with the slogan, "Trump that Bitch."

Remarks by Trump and the actions of some of his supporters underscored the view "women are objects," Maxwell said.

Trump in the first debate mentioned Clinton "doesn't have the look, she doesn't have the stamina" to be president.

As a female candidate, Clinton dealt with "a bunch of sexism," Maxwell said.

Clinton "upended gender norms" throughout her political career, Maxwell told the audience.

Maxwell, who describes herself as a feminist, said the "rape culture" came to the forefront during the second presidential debate, held at Washington University in St. Louis.

Trump was asked about whether a 2005 video indicated he sexually assaulted women.

He ultimately denied he ever had groped or kissed women without their consent and referred to his recorded comments in the video as "locker-room talk."

Maxwell said the debate brought public attention to the issue of sexual assault which centers on consent.

"Rape culture was part of the election," she told the audience.

People blame the victims of sexual assaults, contending they wore provocative clothing or drank too much, she said.

"Victim blaming" keeps victims from reporting sexual assaults to the police, she added.

"We traditionally teach women how not to be raped when we should be teaching people not to commit rape," Maxwell said.

While Americans have political differences, Maxwell said "racism and sexism are not partisan issues."

She added, "Rape is not a partisan issue."

Maxwell said 97 percent of rapists never go to prison.

"It is very rare for somebody to be convicted," she said.

Many victims never report the crime, she added.

Maxwell decried media reports in rape cases she said appeared sympathetic to assailants, including former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who was convicted of sexual assault.

"We are taught at a very young age that women are just objects for the amusement of men," she said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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