Pete Buttigieg Addressed Black Millennials at Religious Youth Leaders Conference: WATCH

PETE BUTTIGIEG, the openly gay candidate seeking the Democratic nomination, has faced challenges making inroads in the African-American community. His speech this weekend at the Young Leaders Conference organized by Black Church leaders may have made a dent.

According to The Atlanta Journal Constitution , “The Young Leaders Conference is expected to attract thousands of black millennials over two days at the Georgia International Convention Center, and will focus on how each candidate plans to engage African-American voters on criminal justice, gun control and other issues.”

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker; South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg; and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro are slated to speak on Friday at the event. U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders will be interviewed onstage a day later.

When asked about what he would do about poverty, Buttigieg said, “The scripture that I hear on Sunday says that we are supposed to identify with a prisoner as though we ourselves are imprisoned, that we are supposed to find salvation in feeding the hungry, that whoever oppresses the poor taunts his maker, that we are supposed to walk in humility and seek out leaders with the hearts of service.”

Watch Buttigieg’s address below.