Rallies across the country for GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump are becoming synonymous with violence.Trump has not condemned his supporters who use physical violence against protesters and actually suggests it might be a good thing.
When interrupted by a protester while speaking during a rally in Warren, Michigan, at theMacomb Community College Sports andExpo Centeron Friday morning, Trump said, “Get him out. Try not to hurt him. If you do I’ll defend you in court. Don’t worry about it.”
He then went on to talk about how a fight between protesters and rally-goers in New Hampshire was “really amazing to watch.”
Trump told his audience he was tired of “political correctness” when it comes to handling frequent protests at his campaign events.
Trump kicked out Black Lives Matter protesters at aFriday night rallyin New Orleans and encouraged protesters to shout “USA!”
Hissupporters physically shoved around a young Black student protesting at a rallyin Louisville, Kentucky, last weekon Super Tuesday.Shiya Nwanguma, who attends the University of Louisville, was manhandled and verbally abused.The police are investigating the alleged assault.
The incident was caught on video:
“I was called a ni**er and a [derogatory word toward women],” Nwanguma said in an interview immediately following her removal. “I got escorted out by the police the people at the rally were pushing and shoving at me, cursing and yelling at me. They called me every name in the book. They are disgusting and dangerous.”
Joseph Pryor, a United States Marine Corps recruit from Indiana, was expelled for participating in the incident. He posted a photo of him yelling at Nwanguma on his Facebook page.
Joseph Pryor’s Facebook page. Photo via Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes confirmed with the Marine Corps Recruiting Station Louisville on Friday that Pryor was set to leave for boot camp but was instead discharged for taking part in a racially charged incident.
“Joseph Pryor demonstrated poor judgment in his use of social media that associates him with a racially charged altercation at a political rally,” according to a statement released by Capt. Oliver David, a spokesman for the recruiting command. “Hatred toward any group of individuals is not tolerated in the Marine Corps and he is being discharged from our delayed entry program effective [Wednesday].”
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At arally at the University of Central Florida arena in Orlando on Saturday, the candidate commanded the crowd to raise their right hands and swear to vote for him in the Republican primary.
“I’ve never done this before,” he said. “Can I have a pledge A swearing Raise your right hand.”
The audience repeated the following pledge after Trump, “I do solemnly swear that I, no matter how I feel, no matter what the conditions, if there are hurricanes or whatever, will vote on or before the 12th for Donald J. Trump for President.”
Images of the crowd have been compared to an Adolf Hitler rally as many raised their right arms slightly angled forward, which is reminiscent of the Nazi salute.A scuffle eventually broke out between Trump supporters and protesters.
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Trump was quick to blame the “hatred” and “animosity” on President Barack Obama.
“You know, we have a divided country, folks,” he said. “We have a terrible president who happens to be African American. There has never been a greater division than just about what we have right now. The hatred, the animosity. I will bring people together. You watch.”
Before Trump arrived at a rally at Valdosta State University on Feb. 29, a group of more than two dozen predominantly Black Valdosta students were removedfrom theevent happening on their own campus.
