Kanye West donates $200,000 to Chicago Democrat mayoral candidate Amara Enyia

Chicago Democratic mayoral candidate Amara Enyia speaks alongside Chance the Rapper and Kanye West during a "pull-up" rally on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. West has donated $200,000 to the candidate after saying he would "distance himself from politics".
AP
Nick Charity7 November 2018

Kanye West has donated $200,000 to a Democrat mayoral candidate Amara Enyia.

The rapper last week donated $73,540 to the Chicago candidate ​for her to pay off a campaign fine, according to the Chicago Tribune.

He then donated a further $126,460 to the activist and PhD in education policy.

The two appeared together for a rally in his home city of Chicago last week, although West did not speak. He has appeared as a supported of Ms Enyia in a number of political events previously.

It comes after West announced a fortnight ago he is distancing himself from politics in a series of tweets, claiming he has been used to "spread messages [he] don't believe in".

He said: "I walk through the hotel and I walk down the street and people look at me... like I'm Hitler."

West tweeted to his 28m followers on October 30: "I support creating jobs and opportunities for people who need them the most, I support prison reform, I support common-sense gun laws that will make our world safer.

"I support those who risk their lives to serve and protect us and I support holding people who misuse their power accountable.

File photo: US President Donald Trump met with rapper Kanye West in the Oval Office of the White House on October 11. West was roundly criticised for cozying up to the President.
AFP/Getty Images

"I believe in love and compassion for people seeking asylum and parents who are fighting to protect their children from violence and war."

"I would like to thank my family, loved ones, and community for supporting my ACTUAL beliefs and my vision for a better world."

Ms Enyia said of West at a rally last week: “I also have to give a shoutout and kudos to Ye, who is from the South Side and is invested and committed to giving back to our city."

Ms Enyia is an activist who began her career in journalism, before earning a Masters degree in education, a law degree focused on international and environmental law, and a Ph.D. in Education Policy.

The move comes shortly after West declared his love for the president at a long meeting in the Oval Office, where he wore his own cap with Trump's slogan, "Make America Great Again".

The two talked politics in front of a crowd of media and a long-winded rant by West made some even doubt the state of his mental health.

He attracted huge criticism for aligning with the president from fellow rappers and celebrities.

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