Donald Trump's Campaign Marred By Violent Incidents
Last week Donald Trump's campaign was marred by several violent incidents, which have garnered alarm and criticism from leaders and commentators, both from the Democratic Party and the GOP.
Violence Breaks out Several Times Over the Week
At a March 12 Trump rally in Ohio, a man tried to rush the stage, leading Secret Service agents to form a protective circle around the candidate. Addressing the crowd after the protester was taken away by the authorities, Trump used the moment to explain why he did not take the protester down himself.
“I was ready for him, but it’s much easier if the cops do it, don’t we agree?” he said.
On March 11, thousands of Trump supporters ready to attend a rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago were informed that the event had been canceled due to threats of violence between supporters and protesters.
“For the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight’s rally will be postponed to another date,” Trump said in a statement. “Please go in peace.”
Earlier that day Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields filed a report with the Jupiter Police Department, in which she alleged that she had been dragged away by her arm by Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. Fields claimed that she was asking Trump a question at a campaign event at the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter when she was attacked with “hands, feet, fist, teeth.”
On March 9, 26-year-old protester Rakeem Jones was punched in the face by 78-year-old Trump supporter John McGraw, as Jones was being escorted out of a Trump rally in North Carolina. McGraw, who was arrested the next day on an assault charge, felt utterly justified in what he did.
“Well, No. 1, we don’t know if he’s ISIS,” McGraw said. “The next time we see him, we might have to kill him.”
The remaining Republican presidential hopefuls, Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. Kasich, have all condemned Trump as a man who does not unify but divides. Both Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, have accused Trump of inciting violence.
Sanders said, "Even his Republican colleagues make this point: His language, his intonation, when he talks about carrying people out in stretchers ... this is a man who keeps implying violence, and then you end up getting what you seek."
Early Warnings From Left and Right
In January, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., spoke to activists in Los Angeles about the dangers he saw in Trump’s divisive words on immigrants and Muslims.
“I've been around a while and Trump reminds me so much of a lot of the things that George Wallace said and did,” said Lewis. “I think demagogues are pretty dangerous, really. ... We shouldn't divide people, we shouldn't separate people.”
Shortly after Trump announced his run for president in 2015, Republican consultant Reed Galen also spoke about how the celebrity businessman turned politician could unhinge the GOP with his anti-immigrant talk.
Galen said, "Do I believe that it has the ability to derail the party? Absolutely. Is it a long-term concern? Absolutely."
Where Has Everyone Been?
Univision anchor Jorge Ramos, who was famously ejected from a Trump press event last year, joined the roundtable on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday to place the blame for Trump's ascent on political figures and journalists who remained silent for too long.
“Where were all the candidates nine months ago? He announced June 16. Where were they? Where was the press asking tough questions? He was as hateful and divisive when he said that Mexican immigrants were rapists and drug dealers. Where was the press? Where were the candidates? Where were the political parties? Where was the government? Where was the government of Mexico? And so who is surprised now? I am not," said Ramos.
Despite the protests that have emerged from his aggressive anti-immiigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric, Trump says he wants peace.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Bloomington, Illinois, Trump said his campaign was not trying to provoke anyone.
"We want peace. ... We don't want trouble," Trump said.