Protesters gathered in front of a church in Detroit, where Donald Trump visited

DETROIT — Shouting and jeering pierced through streets around an African American church on Saturday morning as protesters rejected Donald Trump’s visit in his attempt to court Black voters.  

Great Faith Ministries Church in Detroit received a wave of scathing criticism following Trump’s announcement to attend a service there. The Republican nominee participated in closed interview with the church’s leader, Bishop Wayne T. Jackson on the Impact Network. 

The New York Times revealed on Thursday that the interview questions and answers had been scripted. 

Diverse, but predominantly African American protesters – even a few African American Trump supporters – were unhappy as secret service blocked the road leading to the church’s entrance, keeping the crowd from getting to close to the building.  

“Protect us first, don’t protect Trump,” shouted former State Representative 

Rashida Tlaib at Detroit police Chief James Craig. 

“This is the man who wants to deport Muslims; he thinks Mexicans are rapists,” she said. “Why are you offering him the respect in there? He can pay for his own protection. You protect us first.” 

Craig responded to the criticism by saying police respect people’s right to speak. 

“We support first amendment free speech, but we wanna make sure people are safe,” He said. 

A journalist who was inside the church, said Trump spoke to a scarcely packed, but attentive congregation, reading from a piece of paper for about seven minutes. He voiced support for African Americans, and quoted scripture from the Book of John. 

In the church, a dance performers put on a show for Trump, Jackson introduced the candidate, and Trump spoke and left shortly after.  

She said attendees were cordial; there were no hecklers and no standing ovation.  

She added Bishop Jackson gave Trump an anointed cloth, a blessed robe and asked him to carry it wherever he goes.  

Juny Neil, founder of Empower Voices, a group that inspires African Americans to be involved in elections, said she always thought Trump’s presidential run was a show. Recently, however, she is becoming more concerned about the growing support he is getting in ethnic communities.  

“Do you understand what hate speech is?” Neil said. “This is how Hitler gained power against the Jews. It started out by some of these simple statements that he makes, with pitting groups against each other.” 

Gina Shoukani, a Muslim American, said Trump has no chance of gaining African Americans’ backing, and his outreach is an attempt to “save face.” 

As a woman with a hijab, she wishes Trump would visit a mosque and see what Muslims really stand for. 

“We’re all in this together, Black, Latinos, Arabs, Muslims. If Trump is president we all have a lot to lose,” Shoukani said. “If my own president outwardly thinks we’re all terrorists, that just allows citizens to be open about saying the same types of things, and hate crimes increase.” 

She added that she often receives unwelcoming looks in public and doesn’t feel safe anymore, which prompts her to think twice about where she goes. 

Chris Talwar, a local businessman, said he is protesting against Trump and his campaign’s insincere 

attempt attract African Americans and to control the media, but mostly he opposes the rhetoric of “putting our head down” while the rich thrive.  

“Trump does not represent the majority, I think this is a stunt of his today,” he said of the nominee’s Detroit visit. “We need to come together across our diversity and stand up for the values that we believe in.” 

“Go home Trump” and “hit the freeway,” chanted protestors as Trump’s motorcade drove off.