Tom Steyer on Civil Rights Democratic Presidential Challenger; CEO

Substantial racial subtext in virtually every policy area

Have a formal commission on race to review 400 years

STEYER: Well, how long did injustice go on? I want to have a formal commission on race and go through the history of the last 400-plus years, to understand what happened, where it went, exactly how we got here and to repair the damage that was done. [Otherwise] we're never going to deal with this, this is something in the past, and so we should just draw a line on today and move forward. And I think that's unrealistic.

Tell the story of slavery and injustice, leading to policy

Increase disability funding; we all succeed together

STEYER: I believe in the idea that we're in it together, that we succeed together, and that looking down or not investing and giving a chance to anybody who is an American is something that to me is deeply wrong. So when I think about disabilities, it starts with the Individuals with Disability Education Act. Basically the federal government says that they'll pay approximately 40 percent of the cost of the education of individuals with disabilities, and they pay about 13 percent. So to me, the real question here is partly a policy of making sure that we fund people's abilities to succeed, but beyond that there is a question here about attitude that goes towards people with disabilities, people of different race, people with a different sexual orientation, or however we want to cut the American pie.

Support disabled by undoing tax breaks to rich

Tell Congress that we need our 5 basic rights

1. The Right to an Equal Vote
2. The Right to Clean Air & Clean Water
3. The Right to Learn
4. The Right to a Living Wage
5. The Right to Health

Fight racial disparities in our criminal justice system

But this central American value is under assault from those sworn to protect it--Donald Trump and the Republicans. From immigration to voting rights to access to health care to racial disparities in our criminal justice system, our fellow Americans face the threat of increased discrimination. NextGen America is proud to stand with them and work to realize the promise of equality America makes to us all.

African-Americans waited for centuries for civil rights

Mike Pence alienates LGBT Americans

Though he's raised money for Clinton in the past, Steyer only endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee last month after the primary process had wrapped up.

Steyer noted that Pence was the first governor to sign a bill specifically discriminating against homosexuals. "Indiana was the first state," he said. "I think that's unconscionabl