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Eleven of the protesters pose Monday outside Cobo. (Facebook photo)

The women who interrupted Donald Trump downtown this week don't consider themselves "troublemakers," a label used by the Detroit Economic Club president. They might not quibble with "loudmouths," however.

Don't "minimize my voice," asks Rashida Tlaib, a member of Moms Against Trump and former state legislator representing Southwest Detroit. She rose at a Cobo Center luncheon to yell: "Give back the Purple Heart. You didn't earn it." (An admirer gave his medal to the Republican presidential candidate in Virginia this month.)

Tlaib (pronounced ta-LEEB) and 13 fellow protesters were ejected Monday after each stood separately to shout a critical question or statement.

"I’ll never be sorry for what we did," Shannon McEvilly tells Deadline.

"This was more than an interruption," Lashaya Darisaw, the mother of an 11-year-old daughter, tells WEYI of Flint.

Debbi Adams of Detroit began asking if women of color are on Trump's advisory board, MLive reports. Another shouted: "You have to answer to women, Mr. Trump!"

In a letter to members posted at the club's Facebook page, president Beth Chappell rebukes "the troublemakers" and says a 23-year-old imposter "fraudulently bought a new membership and invited female guests to do his dirty work."

Her 11-paragraph post also says:

Guests made sure their applause drowned out the unacceptable interruptions. Many thanks to all for not tolerating their offensive behavior. You rock!! 

For their part, the Moms Against Trump feel as though they also rock -- though they don't use decade-old slang. Here are five of their voices from social media, Flint's NBC affiliate and Cobo interviews by Ben Solis of MLive:   

Shannon McEvilly
Communications Manager at ACCESS

"Trump has made it clear, over and over, that he despises everything about Detroit – a majority black population; a thriving and resilient Latino community; the nation’s largest proportion of Arab and Muslim Americans; an outspoken dedication to organized labor.

"That the Detroit Economic Club would give this man, an open white supremacist and near-fascist who directs bigoted vitriol towards all women who cross him, license to spout his garbage unencumbered is absolutely shameful. I’ll never be sorry for what we did.

"For the sake of our city and nation’s future, we cannot allow the racism, misogyny and xenophobia Donald Trump espouses to become an acceptable part of our discourse."

Lashaya Darisaw
​Organizer for Michigan People's Campaign

"I was fully aware of the consequences that could happen for disorderly conduct, but to get my point across I was definitely willing to risk arrest for the sake of other women.

"I said [to Trump]: 'You didn't answer any of our questions. You said that women who are sexually harassed at work should quit their jobs. Do you feel like women should run away from their problems and bullies?'

"I want people to take away that this was more than an interruption. It was more than a question. If you stand for something and you believe in it, then you should ask. You have the right to ask."

Eleanor Gamalski
Organizer for Detroit Jews for Justice

"Sadly we will not be invited back to the Detroit Economic Club. Grateful for a beautiful community of women and activists who will not back down.

"Thanks for the booing -- it makes us stronger."

Debbi Adams

"You have to hold people accountable for what they say and do. It doesn't matter if the media loves you.

"This is a country that was built on the Constitution. All men and women are created equal and he needs to uphold that."


Photo tweeted by Rashida Tlaib shows her removal.

Rashida Tlaib
Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice development director

"It was truly an honor to stand up with these strong women. When we look back at this historic time in our country, we will know that we were on the right side of history.

"No one should be silent and complacent with Nazi-like views.

"Every single women who risked getting arrested [Monday] by voicing their concerns over Trump’s rhetoric against women and others deserves more than to be asked what the audience did or said to us. . . .

"I asked Trump to please stop because our children deserve better. I asked him to be a better example for our children. Our children were watching when he took that Purple Heart from a man who earned it. What are you teaching our children, Trump? . . .

"Instead of being labeled a passionate mother and a woman who cares about our country’s future, they [journalists] made sure to label me the Muslim Palestinian. Proud, but I know you all do it to minimize my voice. You are no better than Trump when you do it."