Bernie Sanders attends forum at north Minneapolis high school

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke at a forum in north Minneapolis about the challenges and opportunities facing black Americans on Friday.

The Democratic presidential contender told an audience of hundreds of people at Patrick Henry High School that the key to creating opportunity is to reorder the country's financial incentives, and that wealth needs to flow from the nation's top earners to the disadvantaged.

He also called for changes in the criminal justice system and said convicted felons should be able to vote as soon as they get out of prison.

"This is just another part of voter suppression. My view is people serve the time, that's it," Sanders said. "They have the right to vote. Period."

Sanders used Sweden as an example to say the goal of prison should be to rehabilitate people, not to destroy their lives.

MPR News political reporter Brian Bakst attended the event, which was sponsored by Neighborhoods Organizing for Change, and spoke to host Tom Crann about the campaign stop and its implications.

Use the audio player above to listen to their conversation.