The Congressional Black Caucus’ political wing endorsed Hillary Clinton for president on Thursday, just hours before she squares off in a debate against Democratic rival Bernie Sanders, who has been courting black voters as the primary race heads to several southern states.
The CBC political action committee announced its support of Clinton at a news conference in Washington, D.C., noting that all of the group’s board members except for two voted for Clinton. Sanders received no votes.
“In Hillary Clinton, African-Americans will have a nominee who knows key Black elected officials, clergy, fraternity and sorority leaders, educators, public intellectuals, athletes, artists, and activists. With their support, we will have a president who has dedicated her lifetime of public service to addressing the inequities that millions of African Americans still face,” the CBC PAC wrote in an endorsement post.
According to CBC PAC Chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., Clinton is an “outspoken” supporter and “partner” for black Democrats. Meeks said supporting Clinton is “the right thing to do.”
Clinton “has been there” for blacks, Democrats and black Democrats, Meeks reiterated.
Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and board member of the CBC PAC, called the 2016 election “the most important election of our lifetime.”
“We need a president who understands the racial divide […] not someone who just acquired the knowledge recently,” Butterfield said.
