Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton addressed more than 300 boisterous Brooklynites at a “Women For Hillary Town Hall” at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights on April 5.
Clinton shared the stage at the historically black college with several prominent local women of color, positioning herself as an ally to women and minorities — groups her primary opponent Sen. Bernie Sanders has ignored, critics have charged. But when it came to talking points, the former Secretary of State largely looked past the primary and directed criticism at potential Republican opponents.
“I am thrilled to have a chance to be here in Brooklyn, and here at Medgar Evers College — and the values of New York are the values of America,” Clinton said, rebutting Republican Ted Cruz’s suggestion that New Yorkers are morally inferior.
Rep. Yvette Clark (D–Flatbush), Public Advocate Letitia James, and First Lady of New York Chirlane McCray — all of whom are black — flanked the former secretary of state as she hammered Republicans for marginalizing women and minorities. Clinton called for workplaces to report employees’ wages as a means of high-lighting the gender pay gap, raising the federal minimum wage — which advocates say would help close that gap — and bolstering minority- and women-owned small businesses — all positions her Republican opponents refuse to take, she said.
“Now everything I just said, the Republicans disagree with,” Clinton said. “My goal is to knock down every barrier preventing every American from fulfilling his or her potential — especially women.”
But she managed one swipe at Sanders — who is gaining on her in polls — for his call to make college free.
“I have a plan for more young people to go to college … but not ‘free’ college,” Clinton said.
Clinton will debate Sanders in the Brooklyn Navy Yard on April 14 — five days ahead of the New York primary.
