Al Green

Well, thank you for having me.

I consider it a preeminent privilege to be with you.

You have a storied history.

And I must tell you that what happened to you is something that I tried to follow and chronicle.

And I hope that things will work out such that you will be

kept in the high esteem that you've always been, and that we worship you almost.

Thank you.

I did it because President Trump, in doing this, has demeaned black people.

We have, over the years, had this caricature of us as being less than homo sapiens, less than human, maybe a little bit above the ape, but less than human.

And I wanted him to know that some of us will still take a stand against this kind of behavior.

And I wanted to confront him.

I didn't want to just tell him by way of some sort of written message that he would receive or possibly never receive.

I wanted to be there, pardon me for saying it this way, but in his face.

I wanted to sit on the aisle.

I knew that he would come right by me and would afford me the opportunity to share the message with him.

This message was simple, but it's true.

The president rarely has an opportunity to be confronted, and I think that it made a difference.

I've noticed his demeanor when he saw it and he decided to make his way.

It was something that impacted him.

He needs to know that we are humans like everyone else, and we're entitled to the respect that he accords other people.