Donald Trump made a direct appeal to African-American voters in a major speech Tuesday night, claiming he will not "take advantage" of the black community like the Democratic Party has.

In remarks that were intended to focus on the violent unrest in Milwaukee, the Republican presidential nominee vowed to restore law, order and peace to inner city communities and poverty-stricken towns across America.

"The main victims of these riots are the law-abiding African Americans living in these neighborhoods," Trump told supporters in the Milwaukee suburb of West Bend, Wis. "It is the first duty of government to keep the innocent safe and when I am president I will fight for the safety of each American and especially those Americans who have not known safety for a very, very long time."

"I am asking for the vote of every African-American citizen struggling in our country today who wants a different and better future," he later added. "To every voter in Milwaukee, to every voter living in the inner city, I am running to offer you a much better future, a much better job and a much higher wage."

Trump charged Democratic politicians with enacting policies that have decimated the black community, while continuing to seek its support.

"The Democratic party has taken the votes of African Americans for granted. They just assume they'll get your support and do nothing in exchange for it," he claimed, adding to rousing applause that "it's time to give the Democrats some competition for these votes."