Can Trump Be Stopped? Black Lawmakers Plan Resistance Against President-Elect Ahead Of Inauguration

Black lawmakers are planning for a fight against President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration later this month, Politico reported Monday. A number of members of the Congressional Black Caucus told the news outlet that they're prepared to battle Trump on policies that would "disenfranchise African-Americans."

The politicians noted this was an exceptional measure, since the president-elect was not "normal," a phrase that's become a rallying cry of sorts in opposition of Trump.

"This is not the normal incoming president," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat to Politico. "We had no plan for George Bush. I think [Representatives] Charlie Rangel and John Conyers would tell you they didn’t even have a plan for Richard Nixon. But this is not the norm."

Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, the incoming Congressional Black Caucus Chairman who is a Democrat, is expected to detail the group's priorities Tuesday. Suggestions thus far have ranged from fighting Trump on Twitter to protests modeled after the civil rights movement, Politico reported.

"The stakes are incredibly high and our community is counting on us as the last line of defense between Donald Trump and the worst of what America could offer," Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, told Politico.

Exit polls showed Trump won just eight percent of the black vote, which was actually an increase of two percentage points from the previous Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. He angered many in the African-American community during his campaign by connecting them with the "inner cities" that he said were falling apart and full of crime. He also asked African-American voters at large, "What the hell do you have to lose?"

While some African-American leaders, such as Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, have suggested a wait-and-see approach, some of Trump's appointees have already proven worrisome to the Congressional Black Caucus. Steve Bannon, Trump's chief strategist, formerly headed up Breitbart News, a platform for the so-called "alt-right," a group that has attracted white supremacists. Trump's proposed attorney general, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, was once denied a judge position over accusations of racist remarks. There's also concerns over Trump's choice to lead the Education Department, Betsy DeVos, who promotes school-choice, which some have argued takes away funding for public schools, Politico reported. Trump's choice to head the Housing and Urban Development Department, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, also has no real experience in the field.