Kanye West held his first campaign event in South Carolina on Sunday night. West teased the event on social media, expressing his hope to acquire signatures to get on the ballot in the state. “Hi guys please sign up to put me on the ballot in South Carolina at any of these locations,” West wrote, sharing a list of locations. “You can also sign up at the website kanye2020.country.”
During the rally, West made such statements as “Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves, she just had them work for other white people.” In another moment, West shared a story about how he and wife Kim Kardashian West almost had an abortion, and he grew emotional about his past and his father while crying on stage. At one point, West had someone thrown out of the event for heckling, video showed.
The rally was held at the Exquis Event Center in North Charleston and was “for registered guests only.” All attendees were asked to sign a COVID-19 liability release form, social distance and wear a mask.
West’s first rally comes shortly after he announced on the Fourth of July he planned to run for president in 2020.