GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It's been two weeks since President Donald Trump visited Grand Rapids, but a comment from the CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries on his personal Facebook page, continues to stir controversy.
We have been getting a lot of questions about what happened. Here is what we know:
Mel Trotter CEO Dennis Van Kampen has since taken down his post along with his Facebook profile.
The post said in part: "Red hats and white men as far as the eye could see. These people, countless of them, said very rude things to our staff. They shouted racial slurs at our guests trying to come for shelter and they refused to get out of the way for our women and CHILDREN trying to get in the mission."
People are pushing back, responding that they stood in line for hours and never saw anything of the sort.
Kent County Commissioner Tom Antor, commented on his own Facebook page, addressing Van Kampen's post, saying:
"I attended the event and saw an incredibly diverse group of supporters, my guess is at least 50% of them were women. I am greatly offended by your stereotyping me, my wife, friend and family who support our President."
Grand Rapids Police Sergeant Cathy Williams says the department did not have any calls for service at Mel Trotter that day.
Van Kampen has since released a response through Mel Trotter, saying in part:
"The comments I made on my personal Facebook page on March 28 were in response to events witnessed that day by our Mel Trotter Ministries staff outside our facility. As an organization dedicated to helping homeless and disadvantaged individuals and families, we were all saddened by these events...”
".. It was not my intention to make a political statement. I unfairly painted the crowd with a broad brush, and I apologize."
Commissioner Antor also posted on his personal Facebook page, suggesting he may call for an investigation.
A formal investigation has not yet been launched.
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