National Urban League 2015: Hillary Clinton Urges White 'Humility,' Embraces Black Lives Matter Movement

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke out against systemic racism and America's persistent racial inequality Friday at the National Urban League conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Clinton's comments came weeks after she drew criticism for her use of the phrase "all lives matter" when speaking at a historic black church in Missouri.

"The opportunity gap that America is facing is not just about economic equality; it is about racial inequality," Clinton said. "Race still plays a significant role in determining who gets ahead in America and who gets left behind."

Clinton touted her efforts to raise the minimum wage and urged Americans who have not experienced systemic racism in their own lives to show "humility" and empathy toward those who have, adding that "black lives matter" is a fact, not just a phrase. She received a standing ovation as she left the stage.

She also took a dig at Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush, who launched a PAC called "Right To Rise."

"You cannot seriously talk about the right to rise and support laws that deny the right to vote," Clinton said, according to CNN. "I don't think you can credibly say that everyone has a right to rise and then say you are phasing [out] Medicare and repealing [the Affordable Care Act]."

Activists criticized Clinton in June when she used the phrase "all lives matter" during a speech at a church near Ferguson, Missouri, the site of continued social justice protests since the Michael Brown shooting in 2014. Some have said the phrase "all lives matter" emerged as a challenge to the popular protest cry "black lives matter," NPR reported.