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Warren tackles race following criticism of DNA test release

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Elizabeth Warren sought to solidify her connection with African-American voters Friday as she prepares to launch a potential presidential campaign amid criticism of her approach to race and identity.

The Massachusetts Democrat visited Morgan State University in Baltimore, marking her third trip this year to a historically black college or university. It follows her widely panned October release of a DNA test meant to bolster her claim to Native American heritage. Her speech Friday offered an opportunity to regain her footing.

“I’m not a person of color,” Warren said. “And I haven’t lived your life or experienced anything like the subtle prejudice, or more overt harm, that you may have experienced just because of the color of your skin. Rules matter, and our government — not just individuals within the government, but the government itself — has systematically discriminated against black people in this country.”

Some Democrats said Warren’s speech was a good effort to move past the DNA analysis, which sparked controversy for her use of a genetic test to prove her ethnicity. The findings showed Warren’s Native American ancestor likely lived 6 to 10 generations ago, but that it would be impossible to determine the ancestor’s tribal connection.

President Donald Trump has taunted Warren for discussing her heritage, dubbing her “Pocahontas,” which has been criticized as racist.

Warren could face additional pressure from Democrats to address race. Bakari Sellers, an attorney, Democratic political analyst and former South Carolina Democratic state representative, urged Warren to more publicly say that “you were wrong in the way that you interpret and address race.”

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