Iowa Republican presidential forum on minority issues canceled

DES MOINES — Organizers of the Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum said Friday that plans to have an event in Iowa next month featuring the Republican presidential candidates discussing issues important to minorities has been canceled because of 'unresolved scheduling conflicts.'

The GOP forum, billed as the nation's only event where candidates have the opportunity to 'answer essential concerns of Latinos and African-Americans,' was scheduled to take place Dec. 3 in Des Moines and was to mark the first time Republican candidates would participate.

'As a non-partisan organization, the Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum looks forward to the possibility of working with the Republican Party in the future,' according to a statement issued by spokeswoman Brianne Pins on behalf of the event's co-founders and co-chairs.

'The forum for Democratic candidates will take place on Jan. 11, 2016, in Des Moines as scheduled with broadcast media partner Fusion,' Pins added.

In July, former state Rep. Wayne Ford and Hispanic activist Mary Campos, co-founders of the Brown-Black forum, were joined by top Republicans and Democrats in Iowa to announce plans for a Dec. 3 GOP forum and a Jan. 11 event for Democrats — both in Des Moines — to discuss education, immigration, economic opportunity, health care and criminal justice issues of concern to minority Americans.

Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, one of the honorary co-chairmen of the 2016 forum, called the bipartisan announcement a 'special day' that would continue Iowa's reputation as a welcoming and inclusive state while giving voice to minority concerns on a national stage.

On Friday, Charlie Szold, spokesman for the Republican Party of Iowa, said 'We look forward to working with the Brown & Black Forum in the future and finding new ways to address minority issues.'

Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman Andy McGuire issued a statement expressing her disappointment that Republican voters in Iowa would not have an opportunity to see their candidates talk about issues important to minority communities.

'Iowa Democrats are proud to continue our long tradition of participating in the historic Brown and Black Forum,' McGuire said. 'We believe that Iowa is stronger when all of our families can access the ladders of opportunity, and we look forward to hearing our candidates address the challenges that African Americans and Latinos face in Iowa and across the nation.'

Joe Enriquez Henry, national vice president of the Midwest for the League of United Latin American Citizens, issued a statement saying 'Once again we are being shown that our community's concerns are not important to members of the Republican Party. At a time when we are mobilizing our people to participate on caucus night and Republicans will want our support, they still have not stepped forward to engage with our people.'