Donald Trump – The Violent

Alert: Some might find the language in quotes offensive.

At the University of Miami, the 4 GOP front-runners for the race to president debated. When asked about supporters acting violently at his rallies, Donald Trump responded that people were angry with the current administration, they are patriots, yada, yada, yada. So why is it that they are taking out their anger on other citizens, mostly people who do not look like them?

When I was in junior high, on the day that President Kennedy was assassinated, our social studies teacher wrote on the blackboard; “Ballots not bullets.”  A boy in class blurted out asking if President Kennedy was killed by ballots, apparently thinking that the gun was loaded with special bullets. It gave our teacher opportunity to teach how Americans speak at the ballot box. The lesson extended to explaining that although the United States is a republic, that its voting structure is democratic.   That lesson came back to my memory as I read how Trump supporters act violently.

I did a little research and this is what I found. The Huffington Post reports;

1. At a rally in Iowa, Trump warned people, “There may be somebody with tomatoes in the audience. If you see somebody ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously. Okay? Just knock the hell – I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees.”

The New York Times reports that

2. On February 22^nd, regarding a protester, Trump threatened to personally get in on the action saying, “I’d like to punch him in the face, I’ll tell ya.
3. A protester was in the crowd holding a sign that read, “Veterans to Trump: End Hate Speech Against Muslims.” Trump responded by repeatedly saying, “Get him the hell out.”
4. A Sikh protester was physically pushed out of a Trump rally in Iowa, while fans yelled, “Trump! Trump! Trump!” The protester described it as “a fascist rally in a school gym.

In addition to the above, Slate has published a list of 10 violent incidents at Trump’s rallies and events.

Oct. 14, 2015, in Richmond, Virginia. Individuals at a Trump rally shoved and took signs from a group of immigration activists. One spit in a protester’s face.

 

Oct. 23, 2015, in Miami. A man at a Trump rally knocked down and kicked a Latino protester.

Nov. 21, 2015, in Birmingham, Alabama. A black protester at a Trump rally was punched, kicked, and, according to the Washington Post, briefly choked.

Dec. 3, 2015, in New York City. A security guard took a sign from and struck an immigration activist during a protest after a Trump event.

Dec. 11, 2015, in New York City. Protesters “affiliated with various Arab-American and Muslim-American groups,” per the AP, were “forcibly ejected” from a fundraiser at which Trump was speaking.

Dec. 14, 2015, in Las Vegas. Individuals at a Trump rally yelled “Sieg Heil” and “light the motherfucker on fire” toward a black protester who was being physically removed by security staffers.

Feb. 29, 2016, in Radford, Virginia. A photographer was slammed to the ground by a Secret Service agent after cursing toward the agent during a dispute over where the photographer was allowed to work from during a Trump rally; the Secret Service says the incident is being investigated.

March 1, 2016, in Louisville, Kentucky. A black woman was surrounded and shoved by a number of individuals at a Trump rally.

 

March 8, 2016, in Jupiter, Florida. Politico reports that Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski “forcibly” grabbed a female reporter for the right-wing Breitbart news site, “nearly bringing her down to the ground,” when she attempted to ask a question after a Trump press conference.

March 9, 2016, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. A black protester being escorted out of a Trump rally was sucker-punched by a white bystander. The bystander, John McGraw, has been charged with assault.

 

When interviewed after assaulting the protester, John McGraw said that the next time he sees him, he might have to kill him.

 

Trump seems to take pride in promoting violence and the violence used at his events.  He disgusts me.