Protesters Rally Outside Times Square Hotel As Trump Seeks Support From Evangelical Leaders
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Protesters rallied in Times Square Tuesday as presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is meeting with close to 1,000 conservative Christian leaders.
The demonstrators representing an array of religions gathered outside the Marriott Marquis.
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Holding hands and signs that read "Faith Over Fear," many called on Trump to honor their priorities this election year and not his own, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.
"People who take the oath of office must show basic human decency and respect the dignity of all God's children," one woman said.
Michael Ray Mathews is a Baptist minister.
"A lot of us are concerned about language around immigrants, around Muslims, around folks who seem to be different that what we imagine America is supposed to be," he told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.
Aber Kawas is Muslim and said she feels Trump's rhetoric is dangerous.
"There is definitely spaces in the city where I feel unsafe," she said.
Meanwhile, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said to win in November, Trump will need more evangelical support than Mitt Romney got in 2012, and Perkins says "right now he's not there.''
First Baptist Church of Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress agrees that some Christians have concerns, but he believes Trump can seal the deal with evangelicals at their question and answer session in New York.
Perkins said Trump can expect questions about his likely Supreme Court and vice presidential picks and his policies on religious rights and LGBT issues.
Jeffress said gay marriage is likely here to stay, but he believes Trump "also understands the importance of protecting the religious liberties of Christians.''
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