Kathleen Gray

Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will make his second trip to the state in a week to visit Flint for a community forum Thursday.

The midafternoon forum will be held at the Woodside Church, 1509 E. Court St., where Sanders will meet with residents to discuss the ongoing water crisis and his focus on environmental justice issues.

The visit comes just over a week after Sanders attracted a crowd of 9,000 people at Eastern Michigan University — his first stop in the state. Michigan holds its presidential primary on March 8.

Bernie Sanders' action figure has a commercial with a real catchy jingle

It also follows his rival for the Democratic nomination — former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — who has been discussing the lead-contaminated water problem in Flint for more than a month in interviews, debates and a visit to the city earlier this month. She also just released a TV commercial, which will air in Flint, Lansing and Detroit, which shows segments of her visit to the city interspersed with commentary from Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, a Flint pastor and a resident.

Space is limited and attendance will be first-come, first-served. But those who want to attend the Sanders' event also must RSVP for the forum. Doors open at 1 p.m.

The focus on Michigan comes as Sanders and Clinton are locked in a tight battle for the Democratic presidential nomination. Clinton scored a very narrow victory in the Iowa caucuses and by a wider margin in Nevada. Sanders won the New Hampshire primary election by a wide margin. The two will compete in South Carolina on Saturday and in 11 states on Super Tuesday on March 1.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 517-372-8661 or kgray99@freepress.com