Tony Pettway
As Republican front-runner Donald Trump gains more momentum heading into a possible brokered Republican convention, his rallies have become commonplace for violence and brutal altercations between supporters and protesters.
Twitter users have seen the viral videos of Black, white, and Latino protesters being violently escorted out of the events. The hashtag #SaferThanATrumpRally began to trend as a result of another violent altercation this weekend in Tucson, Arizona. Black Trump supporter Tony Pettway was arrested for misdemeanor assault and released recently after attacking a white protester.
According to Democracy Now, protester Bryan Sanders was kicked out of the rally after chanting “liar” and holding a sign that read “Trump is bad for America.” Pettway sucker-punched the protester and video of the incident went viral, as usual.
Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has also been involved in altercations. According to ABC News, “the Trump Campaign is pushing back against video that appears to show campaign manager Corey Lewandowski grabbing the collar of a protester during a rally in Tucson, Arizona Saturday night.”
The Trump campaign has repeatedly denied all allegations. Trump said he does not support or condone violence at his rallies, but there is documented evidence of him suggesting that his supporters attack protesters.
For example, during a February rally, Trump said:
“I love the old days, you know? You know what I hate? There’s a guy totally disruptive, throwing punches, we’re not allowed punch back anymore. I love the old days. You know what they used to do to guys like that when they were in a place like this? They’d be carried out on a stretcher, folks. [cheers, applause] I love our police. I really respect our police and they’re not getting enough. Honestly, I hate to see that. Here’s a guy throwing punches, nasty as hell, screaming and everything else when we’re talking. I mean, walking out— the guards are very gentle with him—we’re not allowed to —he’s walking out like, big high fives, smiling, laughing. I’d like to punch him in the face, I’ll tell ya.”
The violence came to a head when Trump cancelled a rally in Chicago, where anti-Trump protesters clashed with Trump supporters. Video of Black protester Jedidiah Brown circulated around social media as he fought off suspected racist Trump supporters. Earlier this month, video of a Black Kentucky protester being shoved around also went viral.
This is what Twitter users had to say:
Things that are #SaferThanATrumpRally: Walking the streets of Chicago…no joke. pic.twitter.com/XKgy5slIgg
— Darryl Clayton (@DarrylDclayton) March 21, 2016
Every opening crime sequence of Law&Order SVU #SaferThanATrumpRally
— Butter Queen (@lawgurrl) March 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/reesehuffman/status/711921378786713600
Riding a hover board while soaked in gasoline is #SaferThanATrumpRally
— I. Am. @JenJamesBeauty Everywhere! (@JenJamesBeauty) March 21, 2016
#SaferThanATrumpRally going to Lil kim's plastic surgeon
— JW79Bull2 on IG 🐂♉🐂♉ (@jw79bull) March 21, 2016
Being the Black guy in the opening scene of a horror flick is #SaferThanATrumpRally
— I. Am. @JenJamesBeauty Everywhere! (@JenJamesBeauty) March 21, 2016
Being in the middle of Pompeii during the eruption of Mt Vesuvius is #SaferThanATrumpRally. pic.twitter.com/YtUV0Yg2LX
— Sheila Friend (@Slfriend79) March 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/PolitiBunny/status/711886649756483584
