Windsor-Essex Voters React to Trudeau Brownface Images

Residents in Windsor-Essex had a wide variety of opinions on the images and videos that have surfaced of Liberal leader Justin Trudeau wearing brownface makeup.

TIME Magazine published the photo of Trudeau in a costume, wearing brownface at an 'Arabian Nights' themed party in 2001.

The phone lines were ringing for three hours on the Lynn Martin Show.

Some feel the images and videos portray a racist Justin Trudeau, while others defend the Liberal leader saying it was 18 years ago and society was different.

"It might not have been the right thing to do at that time but I don't think he did it with any malice and he is not a racist individual," said one caller.

Others were more concerned about other topics. 

"I'm more concerned about SNC than this."

"He gets away with everything else that he does. It doesn't change my mind about him. I would never vote for him anyways," said this caller. 

Another caller pointed out Trudeau's excuse that he was too young doesn't fly.

"He is saying he is too young and he didn't know what he was doing. He was a teacher. He had to go to school. Of course he knew what he was doing."

Another caller was more blunt saying, "His apology is worth nothing."

Political Science Professor at the University of Windsor Lydia Miljan was shocked by the images saying it could hurt the Liberals with the election a month away on October 21st. 

TIME Magazine obtained this yearbook image of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau wearing brownface makeup at a party in 2001. (Source: TIME Magazine)

Liberal candidates in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent have also expressed their disappointment at the images.

Windsor West candidate Sandra Pupatello says while disappointed, she was impressed Trudeau took responsibility and quickly issued an apology.

Chatham-Kent-Leamington Liberal candidate Katie Omstead also said she is disappointed and said "we all need to be better."

TIME Magazine published the photo of Trudeau which appeared in the 2000-2001 yearbook of West Point Grey Academy, a private school in British Columbia where Trudeau was a teacher at the time.

Trudeau apologized on Wednesday and acknowledged that he was dressed as Aladdin.

In another photo that emerged, Trudeau was dressed up in a high school talent show and the photo was printed in the Brebeuf College yearbook.  The other instance stems from a video shot in the early 1990’s and obtained by Global News showing Trudeau in blackface.

The first two hours of the Lynn Martin Show will be replayed again Thursday at 9 p.m.