Def Jam founder Russell Simmons led the “I am a Muslim too” rally in New York City on Sunday, which aimed to show solidarity with the minorities targeted by President Trump’s controversial executive order on immigration and refugees.
“We are here, unified, because of Donald Trump, so we won’t speak too harshly of him … today. We want to thank him for bringing us together,” Simmons said.
Simmons and Trump used to be friends, frequently socializing at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
But Simmons has been critical of Trump since he announced his candidacy in June 2015.
“I’m sure he doesn’t consider me a friend after some of the statements I’ve made,” Simmons told the New York Daily News in January.
“We haven’t been friends since the day he announced and I said, ‘I’d rather Kim Kardashian be president.’ So he called the office and that was the end of our friendship,” Simmons said.
Chelsea Clinton also attended the rally, tweeting that it was her 2-year-old daughter’s first protest rally.
Thank you to all who organized #IAmAMuslimToo today – Charlotte’s 1st protest rally. #NoBanNoWallNoRaids pic.twitter.com/5mSXGQtPJU
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 19, 2017
