The Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., a Detroit mayoral candidate, on Friday walked back statements he made earlier in the week that he supports the limited use of National Guard troops in Detroit.

Speaking as part of an event hosted by the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce at the Soundstage at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Kinloch tried to clarify comments he made during a debate on Wednesday with his opponent, Mary Sheffield.

“I didn’t say National Guard, I said law enforcement,” Kinloch said Friday in an interview with Fox 2 Detroit journalist Roop Raj.

Kinloch was addressing statements he made during the Wednesday night televised debate, when both candidates were asked if they would “welcome” the National Guard to Detroit, the controversial tactic President Donald Trump is using in some Democrat-led cities, including Chicago, Memphis and Portland, Oregon.

• More than 26,000 runners are registered for the 48th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon weekend, Oct. 17-19.
• The event features eight sold-out races —including two international border crossings— parties, live music, food and tens of thousands of spectators.

The largest international race in North America returns to Detroit this weekend — and crosses into Windsor.

The 48th annual Detroit Free Press Marathon, presented by MSU Federal Credit Union, will send runners over the Ambassador Bridge into Canada and back through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, rain or shine.

The marathon weekend runs Oct. 17-19 and features eight sold-out races, two international border crossings, live music, food and tens of thousands of spectators. More than 26,000 participants are registered this year.

Sunday’s races — the Marathon, International Half, Motor City Half and Marathon Relay — sold out faster than ever before, organizers said. The event also includes Saturday’s 5K, 1-Mile Presented by Precision Garage Door, Kids Marathon Presented by Priority Health, and Meijer Little Detroit Dash.

Marathon weekend schedule and events

The weekend begins with the free Health and Fitness Expo at Huntington Place, open from 1-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. The event features Detroit Free Press Marathon apparel and vendors offering the latest in running shoes, clothing, nutrition, technology and more.

Other weekend highlights include the official warm-up party Friday at Chalet 313 in Campus Martius, from 7–9 p.m., and the Blessing of the Sneakers service Saturday at 5 p.m. at Ss. Peter & Paul Jesuit Church.

Race start times:

• Saturday, Oct. 18:
  • 1-mile: 8:25 a.m.
  • 5K: 8:50 a.m.
  • Meijer Little Detroit Dash: 10:05 a.m.
  • Kids marathon: 10:15 a.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 19:
  • Gear check: opens at 5:30 a.m. at Monroe Street and Woodward Avenue.
  • International marathon: 7 a.m. (Adaptive athletes start at 6:58 a.m.)
  • International half-marathon: 7 a.m.
  • Marathon relay: 7 a.m.
  • Motor City half-marathon: 10:30 a.m.
  • Awards ceremony: 11 a.m.
  • After party “Conquered” at Campus Martius: 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

Brian Branch’s one-game suspension for striking JuJu Smith-Schuster in the face has been upheld by appeals officer Jordy Nelson, the former Green Bay Packers wide receiver.

The NFL said today Branch will serve the suspension he was given for this week’s Monday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he knocked Smith to the ground in the final seconds of the Detroit Lions’ 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Branch, who has been fined three other times this season for unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness violations, hit Smith-Schuster in the side of the helmet as players from both teams began shaking hands after Patrick Mahomes’ final kneel-down snap.

He said the incident was retaliation for an illegal blindside block Smith-Schuster made on him late in the game. Smith-Schuster’s block was not penalized by officials.

[ Maybe we can all learn something from Brian Branch’s infraction to end Lions-Chiefs ]

Branch apologized for the incident and called his actions “childish” after the game, and Lions coach Dan Campbell said the incident was “inexcusable.”

In a letter to Branch announcing the punishment, NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote Branch violated the league’s policy on unsportsmanlike conduct.

“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” Runyon wrote. “Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”

Campbell said Tuesday he was approaching this week as if Branch would lose his appeal and not play against a Buccaneers team that has the best record in the NFL at 5-1 and an MVP candidate at quarterback in Baker Mayfield.