Press Releases

Rev. Al Sharpton & Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson Call On Donald Trump To Retract Comments He Made On The Today Show That There Are No Positive African-American Role Models & Offer To Take Trump and Gingrich On A Tour of Any City To Show Them Positive Black Role Models

Monday, December 05, 2011 (New York, NY)—Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network and MSNBC Anchor of PoliticsNation, and Reverend Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of National Action Network and Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, are jointly condemning Donald Trump for his comment on the Today Show this morning that “There are no positive role models in the African-American Community other than Barack Obama, who, according to Mr.Trump, hasn’t turned out to be much of a role model. Both of the Reverends are offering to take Mr. Trump and Gingrich on a tour of Harlem or any other major city to show them a multiplicity of role models, including people that work every day, some working multiple jobs.

According to Rev. Sharpton: “I have known Donald Trump for many years and will not let the negligent statement he made on the Today Show go unchallenged. He needs to retract his comments immediately or we will organize direct action against him.” According to Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson:  “I am appalled that a man in his position would make such an irresponsible and ignorant comment on a national forum and ignore the contrary fact that there is a plethora of Black role models in this country. His insensitivity is what fosters negative imagery and the perpetuation of racism in this country.”

National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation, with chapters throughout the U.S. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, national origin, and gender.