Clinton returns to N.C. to encourage early voting at St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh

At times speaking over chants of “Hillary for President,” Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton distanced herself from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in a campaign event at St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh Sunday.

The mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Jordan Davis, Sandra Bland and Dontre Hamilton introduced Clinton at the event and encouraged attendees to vote early and bring a friend.

“Eric can’t vote,” said Gwen Carr, Garner’s mother. “But we can.”

Clinton’s contrasted the positivity at her campaign events with the criticisms and complaints from opponent Donald Trump’s campaign.

“I hear all of the insults and the downer comments coming from my opponent in this campaign and I don’t recognize the country he is talking about,” Clinton said.

Clinton praised the economic progress that has been made under President Barack Obama and credited him for pulling the nation out of the 2008 recession.

“It’s easy to forget how far this country has come,” Clinton said.

She also endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Roy Cooper and Democratic Senate candidate Deborah Ross.

Clinton said she hopes to expand small businesses, make education more affordable and grow infrastructure. She said she wants to create jobs by deploying half a million solar panels in the next four years.

Clinton said in her speech that if she’s elected, she will work to combat systemic racism.

Kara Carter, N.C. spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, said in a statement Clinton has proven she will only look out for herself.

“Her pattern of serial dishonesty is completely unacceptable for a candidate seeking the nation’s highest office and Tar Heel State voters deserve better,” Carter said.

Raleigh resident Chelcey Chavis and her mother Emma Chavis said they had already voted for Clinton during early voting, but they attended the event because it was held at a local historically black college they both attended.

“I went here,” Chelcey Chavis said. “My mom went here for classes. We just felt like it was important to see because of the history. I was amazed when we got here to see all of the diversity in the crowd.”

Emma Chavis also praised the event’s diversity.

“This is one of the best reasons I could have voted for Hillary,” she said. “It’s such a diverse group of people, where if we had tried to go to another rally, we wouldn’t be comfortable and we wouldn’t see people that looked like us.”

Clinton said no matter what decisions voters make, it is likely that more North Carolinians will vote in this election than ever before.

“That’s something to be proud of,” she said.

state@dailytarheel.com