Democratic presidential hopefuls woo black voters at Sharpton civil rights ...

White House hopefuls are making their pitch to black voters today in New York City at a conference that's held annually by the Rev. Al Sharpton for civil rights activists.

The Sharpton event has become a must-pass through event for Democratic candidates eyeing the Oval Office. Barack Obama addressed the National Action Network conference in 2007. So did Hillary Clinton.

Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Georgia politician Stacey made their appeals earlier in the week on Wednesday, and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg delivered remarks on Thursday. 

Sharpton insisted Friday that the conference is about highlighting and discussing racial injustice — if he wanted to make it about himself he said he would bring the candidates on his MSNBC program.

'This is not about kissing my ring or Al Sharpton the kingmaker,' he said. 'Be not confused. I could have every candidate on my television show.'  

White House hopefuls are making their pitch to black voters today in New York City at a conference that's held annually by the Rev. Al Sharpton for civil rights activists

White House hopefuls are making their pitch to black voters today in New York City at a conference that's held annually by the Rev. Al Sharpton for civil rights activists

A string of politicians, including Kamala Harris are speaking on Friday

Bernie Sanders will also speak at the event in New York City

A string of politicians, including Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand will take their turns on Friday

Today a string of politicians, including Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand, will take their turns.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will also speak to attendees of a morning session.  

Former Vice President Joe Biden is speaking at an event in Washington, D.C. on Friday and is not scheduled to attend Sharpton's conference in the New York.

The under-siege Democrat spoke at Sharpton's annual King Day breakfast in January in Washington, though.

Candidates who have spoken this week have been put on the spot by Sharpton, who founded the organization in the early '90s.

Pressed to back a bill sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee that would create a commission to study the possibility of federal reparations for slavery, O'Rourke threw his support behind the measure.

'I would sign that into law,' he told Sharpton.

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