DETROIT -- The Michigan chapter of Al Sharpton's National Action Network is expecting a large crowd to show up and protest Kid Rock's upcoming concerts at Little Caesars Arena.

The group is planning a 6 p.m. protest on Sept. 12 in front of Kid Rock's "Made in Detroit" restaurant on Woodward Avenue. 

"Kid Rock is the tip of the ugly iceberg of white supremacy and is an insult to Detroit, America's blackest and poorest city, to bring that punk in here," said Sam Riddle, the group's political director, at a Wednesday press conference.

Kid Rock opening Little Caesars Arena "an insult" says group who plans to protest performance

Kid Rock, who grew up in Romeo and launched his career as a turntablist in Detroit, will be the first to perform at the new, $863-million arena, which was built by the Ilitch family's Olympia Development with the help of more than $280 million in taxpayer funds.

The Michigan rocker has been criticized for displaying the Confederate flag on stage in past performances.

"He's wrong for bearing that confederate flag and he's wrong for ... not even apologizing for the use of the confederate flag," Rev. Charles Williams II, president of the Michigan National Action Network.

He called the Kid Rock concert series a "calculated move to say 'Detroiters, stay away.'"

"We used our tax dollars to help build this stadium, and at the end of the day, they pull in someone who has no connection whatsoever," Williams said. "I don't care how much you try to brand it ... at the end of the day, Kid Rock doesn't represent Detroit and he's not Detroit."

"The only way we see resolve in this scenario is for Kid Rock to be canceled. Other than that, we won't be buying Little Caesars pizza, period."

Before a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new arena Tuesday, Christopher Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., defended the choice to book Kid Rock for the grand opening, saying he learned from his parents to treat every customer the way he would want to be treated.

"While I can't control what any artist says, I can guide our businesses to continue bringing life changing opportunities to people in our community," Ilitch said.

National Action Network activists Ruby Riley and Michelle George both said iconic Detroit artists like Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker or Stevie Wonder should have been booked for the arena's grand opening. 

"Kid Rock to me is like Donald Trump," Riley said. "All he did was spit out hate. Kid Rock is not for Detroit. He shouldn't have opened up."

George called the booking disrespectful to Detroiters.

"That money, like the school system, was put on our property taxes, and we're paying for this. But they don't think Detroiters, we're good enough to have a say so in our community, but they're wrong," George said.