By Elizabeth Miller
A local group of justice and faith leaders sent invitations today to three presidential candidates for a town-hall type meeting in Cleveland. They want former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Governor John Kasich to address issues affecting the African American community. There are future plans to also extend an invitation to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
The group calls itself the Community Coalition Concerned for Black Lives. Mike Nelson of the Cleveland NAACP says the meetings will not serve as a rally for candidates, but as a place to discuss policy. He wants the candidates to share their specific resolutions for problems plaguing the industrial Midwest.
“This region, with its myriad problems of unemployment, economic disparity, income disparity." says Nelson.
"What is a candidate’s real plan to address this?"
The discussion would also revolve around issues including education, voting rights, and law enforcement reform. Nelson says the meetings would consist of a 40-minute introduction from the candidate followed by a 40-minute question and answer session.