Trump protesters and supporters clashed outside of Benedict's arch as they chanted and debated viewpoints Saturday in light of President Donald Trump coming to Benedict College in Columbia to speak at the Presidential Justice Forum.
Many protestors said they did not welcome Trump to Columbia and did not believe he was qualified to speak on justice reform at a historically black college. Benedict College invited presidential candidates to attend to pitch their solutions and methods to address justice reform for the three-day forum, Trump being the first to do so.
Benedict student access to his speech was restricted. Seven students attended while the remaining on-campus students were advised to remain in their dorms during the visit.
"I'm really passionate about change within my community, within this world, for [Trump] to come here to a HBCU, that's invading my privacy," said Deshawn Gibson, an African American studies student at Allen University.
Gibson said he was frustrated explaining his experience as a black male to a Trump supporter. Gibson also said he didn't feel that Trump was qualified to discuss justice reform at an HBCU.
"He's really preaching nothing," Gibson said. "What is he preaching, especially to my people, what is he preaching? Racism?"
Gibson said he looks upon people like himself to lead his generation and those who follow.
Vickie Moniz, a Trump supporter at the protest, said although she doesn't support all of President Trump's policies she does view Trump as a supporter of America and that's why she stands by him.
"And I'm sorry, this is shameful to be on a college campus and the stupidity that is coming from these college students," Moniz said. "We are wasting our federal tax dollars."
Moniz, 49, said she fears electing a democrat to the White House would result in a loss of American freedoms that the protestors aren't aware of.
"They're gonna lose those freedoms that they're standing out here screaming in my face about," Moniz said.
Shawn Torres, a 2013 Benedict College alumni, said he did not support the lockdown and the limited forum access to Benedict College students. Torres also said it was important for him to come out to support current students, however, Torres said he was disappointed with the decision to invite Trump to speak on justice reform.
"Actually, our students are locked in cages at the moment," Torres said. "Our students are imprisoned inside of their dormitories while there's a social justice reform thing happening."
Torres said Trump's past comments advocating for the death penalty for members of the Central Park Five and campaign donations from private prison systems disqualifies him to speak on justice reform.
"I'm here to condemn Benedict's administration and board of trustees for hosting this here," Torres said.
David Cadieu, 35, said although he's a passionate person, he tried to debate in a manner that wasn't aimed to incite. However, he also said he wanted to make sure that Trump supporters knew that righteous anger is not a vice.
"I'm not gonna throw a punch, I'm not gonna do anything," Cavieu said. "But if somebody else is running up and punching people I care about am I going to step in and defend them? Absolutely."
Cavieu said he took issue with President Trump speaking about justice reform and said he didn't think it was a genuine visit. Cavieu also said the attendance restrictions showed him the event was meant to exclude persons.
"I just know that if he really wanted to hear the voice of the people, he'd make it as free, open and fair and easy to access for everyone is possible," Cavieu said. "But he's not interested in hearing the people on the bottom."
Pierre Wilson, 30, said America as a whole needs to move past whether Trump is qualified or not.
"Because the things that he has done for our community, the black community in particular, has been tremendous," Pierre Wilson said. "Whether he has had the qualifications to do it or not, they're getting done."
Wilson, 30, pointed to the First Step Act signed into law by Trump to address prison reform and aims to reduce the likelihood of reoffenders. The law also reinforces The Fair Sentencing Act among other things. Wilson also said it was important for him to tout Trump's record to fellow African-Americans because he said it doesn't get enough media coverage.
"You're gonna miss all the things that he's done, like opportunity zones, the urban revitalization act, this criminal justice reform bill that we're here for today, you're going to miss so much," Wilson said. "We have to bring these conversations to where the people are."