Sandra Bland’s mother to campaign with Clinton

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will campaign next week with the mother of Sandra Bland, a black woman found hanged in her prison cell after being pulled over and arrested on a traffic stop, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Geneva Reed-Veal is expected to appear with Clinton on Feb. 17 at a voter mobilization stop in Chicago. Bland’s treatment and death has garnered national attention as a symbol of racial inequalities in the criminal justice system.

Clinton called Bland’s case “incredibly disturbing” over the summer.

{mosads}On Wednesday afternoon, Clinton surrogates touted Clinton’s record with the black community and criticized rival Bernie Sanders for being “absent” from the African-American community.

“Hillary Clinton has been a true friend to the African-American community for more than 40 years. During that same period of time, Bernie Sanders has been largely missing in action,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters on a conference call Wednesday.

Clinton is seeking support with black and Hispanic voters, key constituences in the upcoming elections in South Carolina and Nevada. Polls show her outperforming Sanders with these groups.