Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sought to pick up the support of faithful voters on Sunday when she visited a pair of congregations in southeast Queens.
Amid a tough home state primary battle with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the Democratic presidential hopeful took part in services at the Greater Allen AME Cathedral in St. Albans and the New Greater Bethel Ministries in Queens Village.
Clinton was welcomed to Greater Allen AME by the church’s pastor and former Congressman, Reverend Floyd Flake, who recalled first meeting Hillary during her husband Bill’s successful presidential campaign in 1992. Flake credited the Clinton administration for creating jobs and economic opportunity, and said Hillary Clinton would continue that work if elected president.
Shortly thereafter, the former secretary of state and New York senator took the microphone. She said she was “heartsick” over the state of the criminal justice system, which many suggest unfairly tips the scales of justice against people of color, and the plague of gun violence across the nation.
Hillary Clinton also called for an end to divisive rhetoric often heard on the campaign trail and urged the nation to come together to improve the lives of Americans everywhere. She compared her current battle with Sanders to the 2008 presidential campaign, which she lost to President Obama.
“When it was over and he won, I immediately endorsed him,” Clinton said. “I nominated him at the Democratic convention. I was so happy when he won because it was exactly the right thing for our country.”
Following her appearances at both churches, she received blessings from the congregation and got a chance to meet with many churchgoers individually.
