NBCI calls out Trump for ‘un-American’ and divisive remarks

The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a faith-based
coalition of 34,000 churches comprised of 15 denominations and 15.7 million African Americans, said last week that it cannot sit by and allow GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump to verbally assault every ethnic group who make up the fabric of the U.S.

“He has assaulted Blacks, Mexicana, Latino, Muslims and anyone who he believed is not contributing to America or not American,” the organization said in a statement. “For whatever reason, he has assaulted everyone except for poor whites. Donald Trump is clearly dividing us by giving one group of American a false sense of superiority thus indicating the rest of us are un-American.”

NBCI said that the GOP presidential candidate has been a divisive, polarizing force and has utilized the racial, ethnic, religious and income divide for personal gain while tearing away the fabric that unites Americans from diverse backgrounds.

“Scapegoating an entire group of people is the worst form of bigotry,” NBCI said last week. “Donald Trump is playing to our lowest common denominator as he has sought and continues to seek to divide us by income, race, religion and political ideology. What disturbs us the more is that there has not been a majority of people of goodwill who have stood up to denounce this dangerous rhetoric and hate filled speech. Has our country become oblivious to this type of behavior that we forfeit the character of humanity which binds us together in the greatest nation on Earth? Has our country become immune to this type of behavior that we are willing to have the principles of free speech compromised and redefined at the expense of the integrity of American citizenry?”

The group issued its statement as a coalition of Black ministers led by former “Apprentice” contestant Omarosa announced its support fork Trump. NBCI questioned Trump’s classification of himself as a Christian because of the remarks he has made that attack and divide people rather than bring them together.

“Donald Trump calls himself a Christian, but his behavior toward fellow Americans has been unChristian and uncharitable and, in some cases, downright evil,” the group said. “The Black Church will not stand for this type of derogatory behavior and remains unafraid of Donald Trump and his hate-filled rhetoric. Our history shows the Black Church has collectively fought to overcome racism and racist ideology and people. Through the compelling use of moral goodness, prayers, and votes, we the Black Church have paralyzed and immobilized racist and immoral giants. We will do the same with regards to Donald Trump.”

The group said that Trump should pull himself out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination.

“He is not good for America,” the group said. “While freedom of speech allows him some leverage in affording him some rights to be able to say anything he wants, we also have the right to oppose him.

“That is the essence of America and that is why we call for Donald Trump to remove himself from the Republican Party Presidential Primaries. The need to maintain the high integrity of our American society requires a different tone and a different kind of leader.”

“We are not going to let Donald Trump or anyone else assault Black people or any other groups,” the Rev. Anthony Evans, NBCI president said. “We will oppose him and others through our moral goodness. He is the biggest racist since Bull Conner and we believe Donald Trump should drop out the race.” As you might recall, Bull Conner was determined to kill or lock up every Black that spoke against his racist concept of America.”

“Donald Trump is a cancer on our democracy and the pervasiveness of this cancer must be cut out using the fervent tools of prayer, votes, and moral authority,” the group said. “The Black Church has to exercise its moral authority by speaking against this ugliness of the rhetoric expressed by Trump. We must be to not let him destroy this great America experiment for humanity.”

This article originally published in the December 7, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.