There’s an old saying about one being as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party. That would pretty much define what African American leaders thought of Donald Trump attending the opening of a new civil rights museum in Mississippi. Many boycotted the event and there were small protests outside. But the sentiment of some local African-Americans could be summed up by State Senator Sollie Norwood of Jackson who told The New York Times, “Today may be a grand opening, but there will be a grander opening. That will be the day that all of us will walk in.” Norwood declined to attend Mr. Trump’s speech. He said he was looking forward to seeing the museum after the president left. Civil Rights pioneer John Lewis released a statement that said, “President Trump’s attendance and his hurtful policies are an insult to the people portrayed in this civil rights museum.”
A recent Pew Poll showed Trump’s approval rating among African-Americans at 7 percent.