Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.) jokingly pushed back on one supporter who said he wanted the presidential candidate to "punch" President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE in the face.

While speaking to members of the West Las Vegas church on Saturday morning, Booker also shared a story in which he encouraged one of his own supporters against violence.

“I go to these meetings sometimes – I talk a lot about this one, the time where a guy comes up to me in the beginning before I spoke and he says to me, ‘I want you to punch Donald Trump in the face.’ And I looked at him and I go, ‘sir, that’s a felony,’” Booker said laughingly in audio of his remarks provided to The Hill, before adding, “and black guys like us we don’t get away with that. We don’t get away with that.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Booker then said he told the supporter to listen to how he addressed issues.

“But I actually encourage him, I go, ‘Sir, listen to me, and then come up to me afterwards if you still think Donald Trump should be punched in the face.’ And I spent my time talking about the issues like I have here,” he said.

Booker also expressed discontent with notion that the America is a “nation of tolerance,” saying: “Go home and tell somebody you live with tonight that you tolerate them and see how they feel about that.”

“Now, we have become a nation that wants to talk about tolerance as if it's some kind of high idea,” he said while delivering remarks before congregants of the West Las Vegas church.

"No, we weren’t called to tolerate each other, we were called to love each other,” he continued.

“I tell people that patriotism is love of country, but you can’t love your country unless you love your fellow country men and women,” he continued. “Now, you may not always agree with each other. Some days we may not like each other because sometimes we all behave a little ugly sometimes.”

Booker is one of more than a dozen candidates running for the Democratic nomination for president to challenge Trump next year. He is running alongside fellow Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersOutrage erupts over Breonna Taylor grand jury ruling Dimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (I-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Suburban moms are going to decide the 2020 election Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits MORE (D-N.Y.), Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Nearly 40 Democratic senators call for climate change questions in debates Joe Biden has long forgotten North Carolina: Today's visit is too late MORE (D-Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharSocial media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight Sunday shows - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death dominates MORE (D-Minn.).

“But love says it's unconditional and it says that if your child, if Jeremiah doesn’t have a great school to go to, then my child is lesser for it because they’re going to miss out on Jeremiah’s genius and his artistry and his innovation and his ideas,” Booker said. “Love says we’re all in this together. Love says, ‘I need you, that we have interwoven destinies.’”

While discussing the current level of discourse in American politics today, Booker said he believes the country is experiencing “a moral moment and are we going to choose the low road of more hate and division and tribalism or are we gonna choose love.”

"The way we talk to each other. I mean, the disrespect that we show. We have people that hate even before you open your mouth just because you’re in a different party," Booker said.

“I’m going through all through this election unapologetically,” the New Jersey Democrat continued. “This is what makes me different than a lot of the other candidates in the race."