“I fully understand that the African-American community has suffered from discrimination and there are many wrongs that should be made right”.
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Trump came under intense criticism earlier in the campaign after he said African-Americans have nothing to lose by supporting him. “They have no clue”, he told the congregation.
Donald Trump called for a “civil rights agenda of our time” while visiting a predominately black church in Detroit yesterday as his campaign looks to boost his lagging approval numbers among the black population. “We must love each other and support each other and we’re in this all together”, said the reality TV star, not known for being a strong Christian.
Flanked by a few black supporters, including Ben Carson, a former presidential candidate, and Omarosa Manigault, a former contestant on “The Apprentice”, Trump cut a subdued figure here at Great Faith Ministries International.
Denaria Thorn, who was at Saturday’s church service, said she is still not a Trump supporter and had chose to come to the church “expecting an apology” for the patronizing remarks Trump has delivered during his campaign.
At the conclusion of his talk, a church pastor presented Trump with a Bible and a prayer shawl.
Donald Trump decided to make another unexpected move- the Republican candidate, whom many call racist, visited a predominantly black church in Detroit.
On Saturday he was received courteously and rewarded with occasional bursts of applause as he set about trying to allay the deep skepticism of African Americans who have swung overwhelmingly behind his rival, Hillary Clinton.
Trump’s efforts thus far to attract greater support from minority groups have largely fallen flat.
In an interview with NBCs Meet The Press Saturday, Pence said he plans to release his tax returns next week, and said Trumps long-awaited tax returns are also coming.
Scores of protesters gathered a full hour before Trump’s appearance to express their anger over the White House hopeful’s event. Protests met Trump in Detroit, where he focused on promoting unity in a stop that the campaign practiced for with scripted questions and answers.
“I am here today to listen to your message and I hope that my presence here will also help your voice to reach new audiences in our country, Trump said, “many of these audiences desperately need your spirit and your thought”. Then he traveled 45 minutes outside of Milwaukee, which is 40 percent black, to deliver his appeal to African-American voters in West Bend, a community that is 95 percent white.
Detroit is about 80 percent black, and many are struggling. “I want to help you build and rebuild Detroit“. Trump participated in the service and seemed to have fit in with other parishioners.
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They also point out that Trump spearheaded the dubious “birther” movement, which sought – with backing from the Republican Party’s right wing – to cast doubt on the nationality of Obama, America’s first black president.
