Trump-supporting GOP mayoral candidate says rap is keeping slavery alive

Angelo Ray Gomez, a Republican mayoral candidate in  Henderson, Nevada, is not a fan of rap music—and its purported impact on the social fabric.

Gomez tweeted out a recent statement by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis asserting that “Rap is more damaging than Confederate Statues.”

Asked by Raw Story to elaborate, Gomez explained that the sexism and drug use glorified by mainstream rap is perpetuating enslavement of African-American communities—while statues celebrating the confederacy serve as warnings to not repeat the past.

"A statue is a reminder of a past we can never forget," he tells Raw Story. "Main Stream Rap in every essence is not just sexist and anti-women but it promotes drugs and violence; enslaving communities around the United States in a ideological warfare (sic)."

"In other words, Rap is an example of modern influence that keeps “slavery” alive whereas Confederate statues are historical timepieces that teach us where should never go again."

Gomez lost the GOP primary for mayor in 2017 and plans to run again in the 2021 mayoral election. He was inspired to run after meeting Donald Trump in 2016. According to Ballotpedia, Gomez served on a board of Latinos with Trump group and interned for the presidential campaign. He founded a group for young Trump supporters called Trump Millenials.