In January, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., spoke to activists in Los Angeles regarding the dangers of Trump’s rhetoric 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.

Following a particularly violent week of conflict between Trump supporters and protesters, the comparison between the real estate magnate turned presidential candidate and the Alabama governor seems more apt than ever.

Both Poke Fun at Protesters

Wallace, a segregationist who ran for president during America’s civil rights era, was routinely heckled at events. The polarizing candidate would manage to bring his protesters into his campaign speeches by using them as examples of a perceived menace.

At a 1968 rally, he described protesters as enemies of free speech and, by extension, freedom itself.

“These are the folks that people like us are sick and tired of. You’ve been getting a good lesson in what we’ve been talking about. They talk about free speech but won’t allow it to others,” he said.

Trump has simultaneously disparaged his protesters while suggesting they are, in fact, really agitators who have been hired by opposing liberal forces.

“I see people in the audience that I don’t think they have a great future. I think they’re disrupters. I think they are not in love with our country. I think they protest and they disrupt. That’s what they do. I don’t know if they do it for a living. I don’t know if they get paid for doing it. But they are not good people, and they are certainly not good for our country.” said Trump.

Wallace, like Trump, drew enormous crowds and used mean-spirited comedy to rally his supporters.

Wallace once screamed at a group of protestors, "Why don't you come down here ... and I'll autograph your sandals!"

Candidates Call Opponents Names

Wallace would call his enemies "pseudo-intellectuals" and “anarchists,” while often mocking their physical appearances. He now seems like a template for Trump, who has given his fellow GOP candidates negative nicknames.

Trump has called Marco Rubio “Little Marco,” Ted Cruz “Lyin’ Ted,” John Kasich "a baby," and his opponents in general "losers."

Attacks on the Media

Although both Trump and Wallace thrived through massive media coverage, both men voiced the same kind of disgust for the media.

Wallace once said that journalists were “sissy-britches intellectual morons.”

Trump has called reporters "scum" and said that, although he hated some of them, he would not actually go so far as to murder any reporters.

"I hate some of these people, I hate 'em. I would never kill them. I would never do that. Uh, let's see, uh? No, I would never do that," Trump said at a rally in Michigan.

Trump Trumps Wallace

Although both Trump and Wallace share similarities when it comes to polarizing rhetorical techniques, Wallace never actually got close to the White House.

Trump, however, is currently the lead GOP candidate.

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