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Clinton to begin criminal justice roll out in Atlanta

Both Sanders and Bush had campaign events disrupted by Black Lives Matter activists, so much so that they had to leave their respective stages.

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“Secretary Clinton has the opportunity to release a platform focused on race that is informed by her career in politics and the vantage that this ostensibly offers”, McKesson said in a blog post shortly after the meeting.

“We must recognize that blacks are four times more likely than whites to get arrested for marijuana possession, even though the same proportion of blacks and whites use marijuana”, Sanders said in a statement.

Black Lives Matter activists interrupted Hillary Clinton’s Friday afternoon campaign event, throwing a wrench into her attempt to show solidarity with the black community. Guests included pop singer Usher and civil rights activist and Congressman John Lewis.

Speaking of the protesters, she added: “I appreciate their passion, but I’m sorry they didn’t listen because a few of what they’re demanding I am offering and intend to fight for as president”. And it didn’t come at the best moment for her, as the event was meant to showcase Clinton’s strength with black voters.

The crowd initially tried to shut down the protesters by chanting “Hillary!”

The Democratic presidential contender was giving a speech on Friday when the protesters interrupted her by chanting “black lives matter”.

In Atlanta, she will launch “African Americans for Hillary” before traveling to Charleston, South Carolina, for a dinner hosted by the African-American rights group NAACP. In her remarks, Clinton also called for nationwide use of body cameras by police departments.

The latter did the trick, as the protesters exited the room and Clinton was able to resume her speech. It’s part of a three-pronged agenda that includes policing, incarceration and reentry into society.

In Alabama earlier this month, she used a speech in front of black Democrats to blast the state’s white Republican governor for closing driver’s licenses offices in 31 counties, many of them overwhelmingly black.

Clinton’s executive action, which would also block federal contractors from inquiring about criminal history, would apply to the initial application phase and require that agencies that complete background checks to do so only later in the process.

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Clinton thanked the chapter for its responsiveness and commitment for being a changing force in this city.

Hillary Clinton speaks in Manchester New Hampshire. Jim Cole  Associated Press