Hillary Clinton comes to Bronzeville to rally for minority votes

By Emiliana Molina

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton rallied for minority votes today in Bronzeville, a historically African-American community on the south side of Chicago.

Geneva Reed-Veal, the mother of Sandra Bland, who was found dead in a jail cell in Texas days after being pulled over for a routine traffic stop, endorsed Clinton during the rally today.

[vimeo 155760910 w=474]“This woman is dedicated to seeing mothers who single-handedly raised babies,” said Reed-Veal as she introduced Clinton for the get-out-the vote rally. “Selfless in sitting down with a room full of mourning mothers, who have violently lost their children.”

Several Chicago mothers whose children were either killed by gun violence or by police joined Clinton on stage. Clinton supporters at the rally said they believe the former Secretary of State will bring minorities together to foster better relations between the police and the community.

“She has the ability with gathering all of us mothers together so that when we get out and let people see we chose not to die even though our kid did…I believe that will take it over the top,” said Reed-Veal.

More than 200 people attended the rally in Bronzeville’s historic Parkway Ballroom to hear Secretary Clinton’s speech. She next moves on to the Nevada Caucuses and South Carolina primary where analysts say winning minority votes is crucial for her to prevail over Democratic rival Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Photo at top: Hillary Clinton holds hands with Sandra Bland’s mother.
(Emiliana Molina/Medill)