CHICAGO — Former President Donald Trump is speaking in Chicago Wednesday at the National Association of Black Journalists’ Convention and Career Fair.
Donald Trump is coming back to the city he has loved to bash as president and as a candidate. But his appearance at the NABJ Convention causing some dissension among Black journalists.
“One of the reasons people are unhappy about this appearance is because he’s attacked and denigrated Black journalists and particularly Black women journalists, why? Is he ready to apologize for that?” ABC7 Political Analyst Laura Washington said. “He’s talking about Black jobs and migrants taking Black jobs away from people. What does he mean by that? What is a Black job? “
The decision to invite former President Trump to take part in a panel discussion with three NABJ journalists including ABC’s Rachel Scott prompted the convention co-chair to quit.
She wrote on social media that while her decision was influenced by a variety of factors, she was not involved or consulted on the decision to give Trump a platform at the conference.
Ken Lemon, the president of NABJ defending the decision in a statement saying, “While we acknowledge the concerns expressed by our members, we believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable.”
“The members want to hear from them,” Washington said. “They want to hear their about their issues, and they want to hold them accountable. You can’t hold a presidential candidate accountable if you don’t have them on the stage. There’s but there needs to be tough questions. It shouldn’t be a show. And I think that’s a legitimate thing to do.”
A statement from the Trump campaign defended his visit saying in part, “President Trump accomplished more for Black Americans than any other president in recent history by implementing America First policies on the economy, immigration, energy, law and order, and foreign policy.”
There is a very heavy police and Secret Service presence is at the Hilton Chicago where the former president will be speaking shortly to the national convention of black journalists.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said Tuesday night that the city is prepared for his arrival.
His visit comes after the July 13 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania where he was addressing a crowd of supporters.
Back in 2016, protests forced the former president to scrap a rally at the University of Illinois Chicago campus.
On Wednesday, his visit is drawing out several organizations who plan to protest, saying he is not welcome.
In the same way that we are marching on the DNC in August, at the same time, we are here protesting Trump because we also know that the Republicans also have a reactionary racist agenda and they to, if they were in power, would further this genocide in supporting Israel,” protester Faayani Abona Mijana said.
But not all feel the same way, with some supports of the former president dressed in red and pink Trump gear.
They are not registered for the convention, but they were in the lobby of the Hilton Chicago, saying they want to make sure Trump knows that there are African-Americans and people of color who are cheering him on.
“I am here to let Trump know that Chicago is in full support of him as well and we’re not buying into the narrative that Chicago is not Trump country,” Trump supporter Connie Lee said. “There are a lot of people here in Chicago that do support President Trump.”
The groups who are demonstrating also plan to march on the DNC next month.
Meanwhile the NABJ said the Kamala Harris campaign had a schedule conflict and she couldn’t attend. But they are trying to work out some kind of appearance at a later date.
The Harris campaign released a statement saying, “Ahead of Donald Trump’s conversation at NABJ today – let’s remember exactly who this man is. Not only does Donald Trump have a history of demeaning NABJ members and honorees who remain pillars of the Black press, he also has a history of attacking the media and working against the vital role the press play in our democracy.
“We know Donald Trump is going to lie about his record and the real harm he’s caused Black communities at NABJ – and he must be called out.
“He will lie about the skyrocketing Black unemployment and Black uninsured rates our communities suffered from when he was president.
“He’ll lie about his failed response to the pandemic that cost Black Americans our lives and our livelihoods.
“He’ll lie about skyrocketing crime under his leadership and make grand claims about putting checks in people’s pockets when we know his Project 2025 agenda would cost our families thousands.
“Black voters see Donald Trump’s lies and empty pandering for what they are – and they will hold him accountable at the polls this November.
“In contrast, Black voters will hear from Democratic leaders at the NABJ convention about the promises the Biden-Harris administration has kept to our community: millions of jobs created for Black workers, record high Black employment, support for Black-owned small businesses, and billions in student debt relief working to close the racial wealth gap. The choice could not be more clear.”
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