Sanders to visit Puerto Rico, skip Women's Convention [View all]

BY JULIA MANCHESTER - 10/19/17 05:09 PM EDT

Excerpt:

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced on Thursday he would travel to Puerto Rico to meet with officials in the wake of Hurricane Maria instead of addressing the Women's Convention next week.

“I want to apologize to the organizers of the Women’s Convention for not being able to attend your conference next Friday in Detroit. Given the emergency situation in Puerto Rico, I will be traveling there to visit with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and other officials to determine the best way forward to deal with the devastation the island is experiencing," Sanders said in a statement.

"The U.S. Congress cannot turn its back on the millions of people in Puerto Rico who, four weeks after the hurricane, are still without electricity, food and running water," he continued.

The announcement comes after the Women's Convention faced fierce backlash for choosing Sanders to headline the opening day of the conference. The convention is aimed at bringing together politicians and activists for "workshops, strategy sessions, [and] inspiring forums" as they gear up for the 2018 midterm elections.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/356295-sanders-to-visit-puerto-rico-instead-of-womens-convention