By Tyana Jackson, Damenica Ellis & Leah Clark
Donald Trump’s attendance at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago was met with protests, interruptions, debates in the crowd and even the resignation of the convention’s co-chair.
The former president didn’t smooth over the tension during his discussion with the event’s moderators, ABC News’ Rachel Scott, FOX News’ Harris Faulkner and Semafor’s Kadia Goba, and he questioned the Black identity of Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee.
Trump took the stage in front of a full room of mostly Black journalists who stood in long lines and went through a mild security search at the Hilton Chicago with little applause, boos and expressions of disgust on many guests’ faces.
Scott opened the conversation citing examples of Trump’s insults and descriptions of Black journalists that have been described as racist, asking “Why should Black journalists trust you after you have used language like that?” Trump evaded answering the question and instead attacked Scott, calling her question “nasty” and making additional comments about her after new questions were asked.
The moderators went on to question Trump about abortion, immigration, the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, “Black jobs” and the killing of Sonya Massey, a Black woman, in her home — all topics which Trump evaded in some manner. Scott ended up cutting the planned hourlong talk short, citing requests “by the Trump team.”
Attendees who were eager to hear what Trump had to say ultimately said they left disappointed and with more questions than answers for Trump and for NABJ leadership.
Disappointment from guests
Numerous NABJ members expressed displeasure with the decision to invite Trump. Former NABJ 2024 convention co-chair Karen Attiah stepped down from her position amid the initial announcement that Trump would speak at the convention.
“While my decision was influenced by a variety of factors, I was not involved or consulted in any way with the decision to platform Trump in such a format,” she posted on X on Tuesday.
NABJ members also expressed displeasure at the facilitation of fact-checking protocols during the event. The organization stated PolitiFact would provide live fact-checking on NABJ’s website, but Attiah tweeted during the Q&A, “This does not help us here in the room, who aren’t seeing it on the screens.” Other guests also said they were frustrated that fact-checking was not available on the screen inside the event.
Former NABJ board members Khorri Atkinson and Brandy Merrierweather bristled over what they saw as a lack of planning for the event. Atkinson also said there “could’ve been a Black male journalist on the panel” for additional perspective.
“The good thing about this is that he came, but we were sitting here for over 30 minutes and nobody was prepared,” Merrierweather said.
Protests outside the hotel
Many local protesters made it clear that Trump was not welcome at the NABJ conference or in Chicago, forming crowds across the street from barricades of police on bicycles. Protesters chanted for Trump to go away, engaged in debates with Trump’s supporters and called Trump racist, sexist and anti-LGBTQ+.
A group of musicians called The Sousaphones Against Hate stood across from the Hilton playing “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar because “Trump is not like us,” they said.
Organizers, including members of the revived Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) — a descendent of the organization that disrupted the Democratic National Convention in 1968 — gathered along with members of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.
“We’ve only had about 24 hours to organize this protest because we weren’t expecting the National Association of Black Journalists to invite a racist to come and speak,” said Kobi Guillory, co-chair of Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. “But I know for a fact most of the Black journalists in there do not accept Donald Trump being here. I understand that they have to protect their jobs and can’t come out here to protest, so that’s why we’re out here coming to protest.”
Trump attracted onlookers to the venue of the Q&A, including one White family who had never heard of NABJ before. “We’re here to possibly see him…When we heard he was here we came to check it out,” Chad Godwin said.
Questioning Harris’ identity
Trump did not hesitate to take a dig at his likely presidential opponent, Harris, attacking her racial background.
“I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black,” Trump said. Harris has frequently talked about having a Jamaican father and an Indian mother.
Harris’ campaign released a statement in response to Trump’s comments, saying “the hostility Donald Trump showed on stage today is the same hostility he has shown throughout his life.”
“Trump lobbed personal attacks and insults at Black journalists the same way he did throughout his presidency — while he failed Black families and left the entire country digging out of the ditch he left us in,” the statement read. “Donald Trump has already proven he cannot unite America, so he attempts to divide us.”
Following Trump’s Q&A, attention quickly shifted to whether Harris would get a chance to speak directly to NABJ members as well. NABJ said in a statement released Wednesday that Harris would appear virtually for a Q&A in September. NABJ President Ken Lemon said in a statement that NABJ had been in talks with both the Democratic and Republican parties since January as part of customary organization practices and were told that Harris’ campaign could not accommodate the request.
Amaya Mann, who attended the event in person, said she’s now anxiously awaiting Harris’ opportunity to address NABJ.
“Come September, I will definitely be tuned online for that,” Mann said.
Listen to NABJ Monitor Podcast: Donald Trump at NABJ:
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