Metro - the Richard Branson edition
- By Jack Preston -
- Oct 04, 2012
Today’s edition of Metro Global marks a first for the newspaper, coming guest edited by Richard Branson. The Virgin Group Founder spent yesterday in the paper’s New York office as he attended editorial meetings and guided Metro’s focus.
This morning Metro leads with a subject close to Branson’s heart, highlighting the failed war on drugs. During his time at the paper Branson went as far as to describe the American drugs policy as a “war on black people,” as he delivered his views in typically frank form.
“The fundamental difference in America, is that it is a war against black people in America. It's black people ... 85 percent of people who go to prison for drug use in America are black people. They don't take more drugs, but it's a racist law against black people in America,” claimed Branson.
“The law should be changed. You’ve got something like 1.5 million people in American jails languishing for taking drugs and that is wrong. Those people would be much better being out in society, being helped if they have drug problem, getting off the problem.”
There was also time for the guest editor to share his views on slightly lighter subject matters, as he defended 15 year old student Brianna Demato’s choice to wear a T-shirt to school emblazoned with the slogan ‘Enjoy Vagina’.
“I mean, most women have vaginas, so why shouldn’t they be able to mention it? When we first came up with the name ‘Virgin,’ we weren’t allowed to register it for five years, because they said it was rude. We ended up having to go to the English dictionary to prove that ‘virgin’ was actually the opposite of rude”
If you’d like to read Richard Branson’s edition of today’s paper, you can do so at the Metro website.
By Jack Preston. Senior Content Executive. Tweets at @JackPressedOn
