Trump Tells Black Church Members in Detroit He is There to ‘Learn’

“I have a very open mind”, echoed Pierre Curtis, 69, a Great Faith Ministries International congregation member for more than 20 years. AP is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. Join us in a conversation about world events, the newsgathering process or whatever aspect of the news universe you find interesting or important. “I fully understand that the African American community has suffered from discrimination and that there are many wrongs that still must be made right”. “Mr. Trump ran a campaign through the nomination process of bigotry”. “We come here to say, yes, we work hard, for the family”. “This is the first African-American church he’s been in, y’all!”

Before he left, he was presented with a prayer shawl, which Jackson draped over Trump’s shoulders, and a Jewish Heritage Studies bible.

There were protests outside the church leading up to Trump’s arrival.

As scores of protesters outside chanted “No justice, no peace”, Trump said he wanted to make Detroit – a predominantly African-American city which recently emerged from bankruptcy – the economic envy of the world by bringing back companies from overseas.

His Saturday speech was received warmly from attendees inside the church, according to reports, but he was met with protesters outside who reappropriated Trump’s own words to chant: “What do we have to lose?”

If Trump truly wanted to have a dialogue with blacks in Detroit and hear about their concerns, he would have “arranged an opportunity for people to speak” with him, said the Rev. Horace Sheffield, one of several prominent pastors, labor leaders and elected officials planning a silent march Saturday morning to Bishop Jackson’s church.

“This is the man who wants to deport Muslims; he thinks Mexicans are rapists”, she said.

Trump is going to Detroit to make what appears to be a late attempt to woo black voters roughly two months before the general election.

The hashtag #TacoTrucksOnEveryCorner became wildly popular after Marco Gutierrez, who was born in Mexico and co-founded Latinos for Trump, said about immigration rates on MSNBC, “If you don’t do something about it, you’re going to have taco trucks [on] every corner”. “Crime at levels that nobody has seen”, and asked them “what the hell do you have to lose?” by voting for him.

“You can’t have a country unless you have some borders”, he said.

He said reform had to come from outside the system and that was what he was offering American voters.

He also denounced what he said was a divided nation.

On Friday, he met with black religious, business and civic leaders in Philadelphia, and days earlier he met with Republican blacks and Latinos at his NY headquarters.

Trump later toured parts of Detroit with Carson by his side, stopping by the retired neurosurgeon’s childhood home for a brief visit.

At one point, the protesters tried to push through a barrier to the parking lot but were stopped by church security and police.

A crowd of a few hundred demonstrators criticized Trump’s visit, with some holding “Clinton-Kaine” signs and “No Hate In The White House” placards. “If Trump is president we all have a lot to lose”, Shoukani said.

Of his speech, Trump claimed that he “just wrote this the other day, knowing I’d be here – and I mean it from the heart”.