How a Black conservative activist arranged Donald Trump's stop at an Atlanta Chick-fil-A

WASHINGTON (AP) — The scenes of Donald Trump being warmly greeted on Wednesday by a Black audience at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta electrified conservative political media at a moment when Republicans hope to make inroads with Democrats’ most committed voting bloc.

Those widely shared moments were days in the making, an alliance between the Trump campaign, local activists, and students at some of the nation’s most iconic historically Black colleges.

Trump and his allies have argued he can win greater Black support due to his messages on the economy and immigration, a notion President Joe Biden's campaign rejects. Some of his outreach to African Americans has played on racial stereotypes — promoting $399 branded sneakers or suggesting that Black people would empathize with his dozens of felony charges — and has offended longtime critics and some potential allies.

But the campaign considered Wednesday's photo opportunity at Chick-fil-A, a stop he made on the way to a fundraiser in Atlanta, a win that produced viral videos shared by his allies and widely discussed by supporters and opponents alike.

“People find it so hard to believe that there are young Black people who would have loved the opportunity to meet Trump,” said Michaelah Montgomery, a conservative activist and founder of Conserve the Culture, which recruits and educates college students and young alumni at Atlanta's historically Black colleges and universities.

Montgomery, a former Georgia Republican Party staffer who regularly coordinates events for HBCU students open to conservative ideas to meet with politicians and activists, said she was notified earlier in the week that Trump would visit Atlanta's Vine City neighborhood during his trip to host a high-dollar fundraiser in the city. She notified a private group chat of students she uses to coordinate events and job opportunities about the president's visit. She received immediate interest in appearing alongside him from around a dozen students.

“Everybody got together at around 9:30 in the morning and walked on over to the Chick-fil-A and then we sat there and waited until the president showed up,” said Montgomery, who can be seen embracing the former president in multiple viral videos. “It’s really disheartening to see that the media makes it seem like we just stumbled into a Chick-fil-A and he bought us milkshakes."

Morehouse and Spelman Colleges are some of the foremost historically Black colleges in the nation, with long legacies of influential Black alumni in politics, business, religion and medicine. Martin Luther King Jr. and Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, who pastors King’s former church, are both Morehouse alumni. Stacey Abrams, the influential Georgia Democrat, attended Spelman. Alongside neighboring Clark Atlanta University and Morris Brown College, the academic collective on Atlanta's West Side has served as a bastion of African American politics and culture since before the Civil Rights movement.

Trump’s overture to students at the iconic Black institutions both underscored his eagerness to show any potential inroads with Black voters as well as the campaign’s strategy of partnering with local conservative groups to marshal a crowd in communities outside the GOP base, a common political tactic with a slight twist.

“The location was beautifully selected and I think it had an incredible impact,” said Bill White, a businessman and longtime friend of the former president who organized the high-dollar luncheon for the Trump campaign in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood the same day. “I just thought the day was a resounding success for him and for the people in Georgia who loved him and wanted to come out and show their support.”

White added that Donald Trump “is very relatable to anyone, really. Atlantans got a chance to see that and show their love back” and he anticipates Trump will make major inroads with Black voters in Atlanta and across the country due to events like his Wednesday visit.

Jasmine Harris, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, criticized the visit.

“Thinking Black voters relate to Donald Trump because he spent twenty minutes handing out freebies at a fast food restaurant is yet another insult to our intelligence – and perfect example of just how disingenuous Trump’s outreach to Black voters continues to be," Harris said in a statement.

In March, 55 percent of Black Americans said they approved of Biden's handling his job as president while 45 percent disapproved, according to a poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Research. But a February poll found only a 25 percent favorability rating for Trump among Black Americans.

The visit was not met with fanfare by some on campus or the local community. Montgomery denounced the criticism some students who appeared in the viral videos alongside Trump have received both on campus and online.

“They are claiming that the students made a mockery of their institutions and saying that they are disrespecting their ancestors. It is really, really bad,” said Montgomery.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump visits a Chick-fil-A eatery, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, center, visits a Chick-fil-A eatery, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, greets a customer as he visits a Chick-fil-A eatery, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, hugs Michaelah Montgomery, a local conservative activist, as he visits a Chick-fil-A eatery, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, center, takes a photo with Michaelah Montgomery, left, a local conservative activist, as he visits a Chick-fil-A eatery, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

TORONTO (AP) — Michael Massey hit a two-run home run, Cole Ragans struck out nine in a season-high 6 2/3 innings, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Ragans was “electric” in improving to 2-0 in three career starts against Toronto, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

“He had the best stuff he’s had all year,” Quatraro said. “He was locating. Early in the game he got quick outs.”

Bobby Witt Jr. reached base three times and drove in a run as the Royals improved to 17-11 in April and 18-13 overall. It’s the most victories Kansas City has had in a month since going 17-9 in June 2017.

“We’re in a good spot but nobody goes to the playoffs in April,” Massey said. “We’ve got to keep going.”

Ragans (2-2) allowed one run and four hits. The left-hander left because of cramping in his left calf after walking consecutive batters.

“We’ve got to get some fluids in him and get rid of that,” Quatraro said. “It’s the deepest he’s gone, the most pitches he’s thrown. It’s just fatigue, probably.”

John Schreiber came on and retired Cavan Biggio to end the inning.

Schreiber got four outs and right-hander James McArthur finished for his seventh save in eight chances.

Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos (4-2) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings but lost to Ragans for the second straight outing. Ragans got the win as the Royals won a rain-shortened game in Kansas City last Thursday.

Berríos leads the majors with 43 2/3 innings and has six quality starts in seven outings.

“I’ve been feeling healthy, strong, mentally, really stronger and more mature,” Berríos said. “I want to keep building on top of this.”

Massey struck out to end Monday’s 6-5 loss, stranding the tying run at third base. On Tuesday, the second baseman homered on the second pitch he saw from Berríos in the second inning. It was Massey’s first homer.

“There’s probably going to be a lot more nights that I leave the tying run on third base than what I did tonight,” Massey said. “You just try to compete, try to battle and stay with your process.”

Toronto’s Bo Bichette hit a two-out RBI single in the sixth but Witt made it 3-1 with an RBI double off Erik Swanson in the eighth. Génesis Cabrera replaced Swanson and gave up an RBI double to Vinnie Pasquantino.

Salvador Perez started at first base for Kansas City one night after being scratched from a start behind the plate because of a sore back. Perez had a pinch hit single in the ninth inning of Monday’s 6-5 loss and was replaced by a pinch runner.

With a leadoff single in the second inning Tuesday, Perez extended his career-best streak of reaching base safely to 20 games.

Toronto’s Davis Schneider hit a one-out single in the second but Royals right fielder Hunter Renfroe threw Schneider out at second base as he tried to extend his hit. Renfroe leads the major leagues with 67 outfield assists since 2017.

George Springer started in center field for the Blue Jays. He didn’t make a single start in center in 2023.

ROSTER MOVES

Royals: Kansas City recalled RHP Colin Selby from Triple-A Omaha and optioned RHP Jonathan Bowlan to Triple-A.

Blue Jays: Toronto put RHP Yariel Rodríguez (back) on the 15-day IL and recalled RHP Zach Pop from Triple-A Buffalo. Rodríguez started Monday, allowing three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. … RHP Alek Manoah (shoulder) allowed one run and two hits in six innings in a rehab start at Triple-A. Manoah struck out 12 and walked two.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (2-4, 5.64) is expected to start Wednesday’s series finale. Kansas City’s scheduled starter is RHP Seth Lugo (4-1, 1.66).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) hits an RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) tags out Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) at second base on the steal attempt during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez smiles after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) celebrates with teammate Maikel Garcia (11) after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia (11) steals second base past Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez blows a bubble with his gum while playing against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez smiles after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) forces out Kansas City Royals' Freddy Fermin (34) at second base and throws to first to complete the double play during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) forces out Kansas City Royals' Freddy Fermin (34) at second base and throws to first to complete the double play during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios (17) works against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey (19) celebrates with teammates Salvador Perez (13) and Freddy Fermin (34) after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)