Hillary Clinton is beginning to reap the rewards of being the only presidential candidate to visit Flint, Mich., after lead contaminated-water left a struggling city of 100,000 in a health crisis.
Three Flint-based African American ministers, Rev. Hubert Miller, Rev. Al Harris and Bishop Rogers Jones Sr. endorsed Clinton on Monday, and praised her commitment to help the residents of the black-majority population of Flint, according to a press release sent from Clinton’s campaign.
“Secretary Clinton has certainly aided us in bringing added political attention to our plight in the City of Flint, causing other politicians to move legislation on this subject, and vowing to do everything within her power to assist Flint in recovering from this sinful social experiment we call the Flint Water Crisis,” Miller said in a testimonial shared by the campaign.
Ahead of her visit to the city on Feb. 7, Clinton sent two staffers to meet with the mayor to discuss how to resolve Flint’s ongoing crisis and how to provide healthcare and educational assistance to affected children. She also called for Gov. Rick Snyder to request aid from the federal government, which he later did. When Clinton visited Flint, a detour from the campaign trail, she made a pledge “not to let America forget what was happening there, and to help the city rise again,” according to the press release.
“I thank God for Hillary Clinton’s recent visit to Flint, Michigan. She didn’t use the ‘water crisis’ as a platform to further her political agenda,” said Harris. “I was overwhelmed by her sincere love and compassion for the people of Flint, as she pledged her full support in doing everything it takes to make our fractured community whole. Her voice was more than that of a politician, it was the voice of a humanitarian.”
“Voters have the chance to choose one of the most broadly and deeply qualified presidential candidates in modern history,” said Jones Sr. “One of the most impressive selfless gestures that were shown from Mrs. Clinton was setting her most valued time aside during her campaign, the most crucial time in New Hampshire, to come see about the people in Flint, Michigan. No other candidates have shown their presence during this entire water crisis that we are facing. She vowed to help our people and not turn her back on us nor forget about us.”
Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders have brought up the Flint water crisis along the campaign trail, and both are looking to get a lock on the African American vote, which comprises a significant portion of the Democratic electorate.
Clinton has also encouraged supporters to donate to two charities, Flint Child Health and Development Fund at FlintKids.org. She also asked volunteers for her campaign to help deliver water to residents.
