Media reports of violence and Donald Trump's presidential campaign, 2016

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This page provides an overview of media reports on violent incidents related to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, including altercations at rallies and threats against Trump and reporters covering his campaign.

Several individuals reported being punched, kicked, spat on, and verbally harassed at Trump events dating back to late 2015.[1][2][3] Trump called these accusations "a function of the press" that did not reflect the reality of his campaign or his rallies.

Incidents are listed below in reverse chronological order with a brief summary of the event and links to media reports on the incident and its aftermath, where applicable. This page also includes Trump's statements during and following several incidents.

Incidents in 2016

Alleged assination attempt

During a rally for Trump in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 18, 2016, British national Michael Steven Sandford was arrested after allegedly attempting to take a police officer’s firearm with the intention of assassinating Trump. He was charged with an act of violence on restricted grounds on June 20, 2016.

San Jose, California

Outside of a Trump rally in San Jose, California, on June 2, 2016, "A dozen or more people were punched, at least one person was pelted with an egg and Trump hats grabbed from supporters were set on fire on the ground," according to the Associated Press.[4] Police officers did not initially intervene because they “were under orders to not break ranks,” BuzzFeed reported.[5]

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Approximately 1,000 protesters assembled outside of the Albuquerque Convention Center, where Trump was holding a rally on May 24, 2016. In the evening, some protesters charged past a metal barricade. Police in riot gear were called in to prevent them from gaining access to the venue. According to The Washington Post, they threw "burning T-shirts, rocks and bottles toward the police and police horses trying to contain them."[6][7]

Julia Ioffe

Journalist Julia Ioffe said on April 28, 2016, that she received anti-Semitic messages and death threats, including a call from a funeral casket seller, after writing a profile of Melania Trump for GQ Magazine. Ioffe continued, “It’s unsettling. I started the day off having a sense of humor about it but by the end of the day, after a few phone calls like this, with people playing Hitler speeches, and the imagery, and people telling me my face would look good on a lampshade, it’s hard to laugh.”[8]

On May 4, 2016, CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked Trump about his supporters who had threatened Ioffe. Trump said, "I don’t have a message to the fans. A woman wrote an article that’s inaccurate.”[9]

Costa Mesa, California

Hundreds of protesters assembled outside of a Trump rally in Costa Mesa, California, on April 28, 2016, where, according to The Los Angeles Times, they were "stomping on cars, hurling rocks at motorists and forcefully declaring their opposition to the Republican presidential candidate." Although there were no major injuries reported, five police cars were damaged.[10] Seventeen people were arrested on suspicion of unlawful assembly.[10]

Albany, New York

On April 11, 2016, a protester at a Trump rally in Albany, New York, was shoved in the face by an attendee of the event. The protester was escorted away by security officials.[11][12]

Janesville, Wisconsin

Teenager is pepper-sprayed by an unknown man while protesting Trump rally in Janesville, Wisconsin, on March 29, 2016.

Outside of Trump's rally in Janesville, Wisconsin, on March 29, 2016, a 15-year-old girl protesting the event was pepper-sprayed by an unknown man.[13]

The Janesville Police Department released the following statement about the incident: "A 15 year [sic] girl from Janesville was peppered sprayed in the crowd by a non-law enforcement person. A 19 year old woman from Madison received 2nd hand spray as well. Both individuals received medical attention at local hospitals. A male in the crown [sic] groped the 15 year girl, when she pushed him away; another person in the crown [sic] sprayed her. We are currently looking for two suspects, one for the sexual assault and one for the pepper spray."[14]

Tucson, Arizona

In Trump's second rally in Arizona on March 19, 2016, a protester was punched and kicked by a rally attendee. As the incident occurred, Trump said from the podium, "They're taking away our First Amendment rights. They're troublemakers, they're no good, and we have to be careful. We've gotta take our country back, folks. We gotta take our country back, very simple." The rally attendee, Tony Pettway, was charged with assault with injury and released.[15]

At the same event, Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was accused of pulling on a protester's collar. Campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks denied that Lewandowski touched the protester. She said in a statement that video of the event reflected that the protester was reacting to another man who pulled him.[16] Trump also said that Lewandowski was only in the crowd to remove offensive signs held by protesters. He said, "They had signs up in that area were horrendous. I will give him [Lewandowski] credit for having spirit.”[17]

Fountain Hills, Arizona

Dozens of protesters blocked the roadways leading to a Trump rally near Phoenix, Arizona, on March 19, 2016. After forming a human wall, police officers began to arrest the protesters. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who introduced Trump at the rally, announced later that day that three protesters had been arrested.[18]

Kansas City, Missouri

Protesters outside of Trump's March 12, 2016, rally in Kansas City, Missouri, were pepper-sprayed by police officers. Kansas City Police Department spokesman Darin Snapp said this action was taken to "prevent protesters from taking over the street in an attempt to fight with rally supporters.”[19] On March 18, 2016, a woman was arrested and charged with abuse of a police service animal for allegedly screaming in the face of a police horse and then slapping it during the protest.[20]

Dayton, Ohio

During a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, on March 12, 2016, a protester attempted to storm the stage as Trump was speaking. The man, Thomas DiMassimo, was removed by Secret Service agents and shortly thereafter charged with disorderly conduct and inducing panic.[21]

Chicago, Illinois

Footage from the Trump rally in Chicago on March 11, 2016, after the event was canceled

Trump was scheduled to hold a rally in Chicago, Illinois, on March 11, 2016. Thousands of people had assembled at the venue—the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion—when Trump unexpectedly canceled the event. His campaign announced, "Mr. Trump just arrived in Chicago, and after meeting with law enforcement, has determined that 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. Thank you very much for your attendance and please go in peace."[22][23] Chicago law enforcement and university police said that they did not report any security concerns to Trump's campaign.[24]

Politico reported that there were 2,500 protesters outside of the venue and hundreds inside.[24] Some held flags with peace signs, while others ripped up Trump signs. There were several demonstrators with Bernie Sanders signs.[25]

Directly after the event was canceled, altercations began to break out between the rally attendees and protesters. Some members of the crowd yelled racially charged words like "runaway slaves" and "f****** terrorist." Reporter Keith O'Brien described his experience, writing for Politico, "I got struck in the head with a thrown object, something hard, metal perhaps. [Some protesters] lashed out, pushing back, fighting in skirmishes with willing Trump participants, baiting the violence."[24] Two police officers were injured during the incident, and five arrests were made.[26]

Fayetteville, North Carolina

On March 9, 2016, protesters interrupted Trump's rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina. As they were being escorted out of the venue, one of the protesters, Rakeem Jones, was punched in the face by Trump supporter John McGraw. Directly after the incident, Jones was thrown to the ground by a police officer. McGraw later said, "The next time we see him, we might have to kill him."[1]

The following day, McGraw was arrested and charged with assault, disorderly conduct, and communicating threats by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. An internal investigation was also opened to determine whether the police officers present during the incident behaved appropriately when they did not detain or arrest McGraw at the venue.[1]

Michelle Fields

See also: Alleged altercation between Michelle Fields and Trump campaign manager and Alleged altercations involving Corey Lewandowski at Donald Trump campaign events
Corey Lewandowski

Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, allegedly grabbed Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields during a press event on March 8, 2016, in Florida.[27] Lewandowski and the Trump campaign accused Fields of fabricating the event.[28]

Fields filed a police report against Lewandowski on March 11, 2016.[29] On March 29, 2016, Lewandowski was charged with misdemeanor battery.

Palm Beach County Florida State Attorney David Aronberg announced on April 14, 2016, that the prosecutor's office would not press charges against Lewandowski. He said that although the local police department "acted well within their authority to investigate and make an independent charging decision" because probable cause existed, "Our standard is higher than probable cause. ... Although the facts support the allegation that Mr. Lewandowski did grab Ms. Fields' arm against her will, Mr. Lewandowski has a reasonable hypothesis of innocence."[30]

Louisville, Kentucky

During a Trump rally in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 1, 2016, a Black protester, Shiya Nwanguma, was roughly shoved by several attendees and reportedly called a "n*****" and a "c***" as she left the venue.[31]

One of the men who yelled at Nwanguma, Joseph Pryor, was discharged from the Marine Corps' delayed entry program for his involvement in the incident after video from the rally was submitted to Marine officials. "The situation and Pryor's lack of judgement are unfortunate, so in keeping with our ethos, this command decided to part ways with him. This command encourages equality across the board, and actions that deviate from our values will not be tolerated," said Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Miller, a public affairs chief for the 4th Marine Corps District.[32]

Christopher Morris

During a rally for Trump in Virginia on February 29, 2016, TIME photographer Chris Morris was grabbed by the neck and slammed to the ground by a Secret Service agent as he tried to film protesters being ejected from the event. Morris allegedly swore at the agent before the incident.[33][34]

Politico reported on March 7, 2016, that the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general was launching an investigation to determine whether there was any misconduct during the altercation.[35]

Las Vegas, Nevada

On February 23, 2016, Trump said that he'd "like to punch him [a protester] in the face" during a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada. He said the protester had been “throwing punches," although security personnel from the venue denied that this was true.[36]

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

During a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on February 1, 2016, Trump said that he had been informed by security guards that there may have been protesters in the audience planning to throw tomatoes at him. He then encouraged the crowd to hit any protester who attempted to do so.[37]

Incidents in 2015

Birmingham, Alabama

Mercutio Southall Jr., a Black Lives Matter protester, was reportedly punched and kicked at a Trump rally in Birmingham, Alabama, on November 21, 2015. In footage from the event, a woman can be heard saying, "Don't choke him!" Prior to Southall's removal, Trump said, "Get him the hell out of here, will you, please? Get him out of here. Throw him out!"[38][39]

Miami, Florida

While protesting at a Trump rally in Miami, Florida, on October 23, 2015, Ariel Rojas, a student at Florida International University, was grabbed, dragged across the floor, and then kicked by a rally attendee. Rojas was participating in one of at least three pro-immigration protests at the event.[2][40]

Richmond, Virginia

Immigration and Black Lives Matter activists were escorted from a rally for Trump in Richmond, Virginia, on October 14, 2015, after they had several altercations with rally attendees. Camila Grez-Messina, a student who helped organize the protest, said, "Even our presence in the rally without any kind of disruption was unwelcome. When we started chanting, it got worse. People ripped signs out of our hands and we were forced out of the rally. We were yelled at, called d**** and lesbians and the N-word, and one of our protestors was spit on."[3]

CNN's Sara Murray reported from the event, "At one point, things turned physical. At another point, there was actually a Trump supporter who spit in the face of one of the protesters."[41]

Boston, Massachusetts

In August 2015, Scott and Steve Leader, two brothers from South Boston, were charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, indecent exposure, and making threats, after they allegedly beat up and urinated on a Hispanic man. According to police, one of the brothers said, "Donald Trump is right. All these illegals need to be deported."[42][43]

Statements from Donald Trump

Donald Trump's statements about violence and protests related to his presidential campaign
Date Related rally or incident Statement
March 20, 2016 Tucson, Ariz. "I think it's very unfair that these really, in many cases, professional, in many cases, sick, protesters can put cars in a road blocking thousands of – of great Americans from coming to a speech and nobody says anything about that."[44]
March 19, 2016 Tucson, Ariz. "They're taking away our First Amendment rights. They're troublemakers, they're no good, and we have to be careful. We've gotta take our country back, folks. We gotta take our country back, very simple."[15]
March 13, 2016 Fayetteville, N.C. "He obviously loves his country. And maybe he doesn't like seeing what's happening to the country. I want to see the full tape. But I don't condone violence."[45]
March 13, 2016 Fayetteville, N.C. "I don't accept responsibility. I do not condone violence in any shape. And I will tell you from what I saw, the young man [protester] stuck his finger up in the air, and the other man sort of just had it."[45]
March 13, 2016 Chicago, Ill. "I don't even call them protesters, I call them disrupters. A lot of them come from Bernie Sanders, whether he wants to say it or not. If he says no, then he's lying."[46]
March 12, 2016 Kansas City, Mo. "I hope these guys get thrown in jail. It'll destroy their record. They'll have to explain to Mom and Dad why they have a police record and why they can't get a job."[47]
March 11, 2016 Chicago, Ill. "We have a very divided nation. I’ve been saying it for a long time. White, black, we have so many sets of divisions, and hopefully we’ll be able to bring it together. I’m a unifier.”[46]
February 23, 2016 Las Vegas, Nev. "The guards are being very gentle with him. I’d like to punch him in the face, I’ll tell you that. ... You know what they used to do to a guy like that in a place like this? They’d be carried out on a stretcher, folks.”[36]
February 1, 2016 Cedar Rapids, Iowa "So if you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of 'em, would you? Seriously. Okay? Just knock the hell — I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees. I promise. I promise."[48]
November 22, 2015 Birmingham, Ala. "I will tell you that the man that was – was I don't know you say roughed up, he was so obnoxious and so loud, he was screaming. I had 10,000 people in the room yesterday, 10,000 people, and this guy started screaming by himself and they – I don't know, rough up, he should have been – maybe he should have been roughed up because it was absolutely disgusting what he was doing."[49]
October 23, 2015 Miami, Fla. "See the first group, I was nice: 'Oh, take your time.' The second group, I was pretty nice. The third group, I'll be pretty more violent. And the fourth group, I'll say, 'Get the hell out of here!'"[2]
August 22, 2015 Boston, Mass. "Boston incident is terrible. We need energy and passion, but we must treat each other with respect. I would never condone violence."[50]

Recent news

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Media reports of violence and Donald Trump's presidential campaign, 2016 - Google News

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 CNN, "Trump rally attendee charged with assault," March 10, 2016
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Huffington Post, "Pro-Immigration Protester Violently Dragged Out Of Trump Rally," October 25, 2015
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Commonwealth Times, "VCU students heckle Trump at Richmond rally," October 15, 2015
  4. ↑ Associated Press, "Protesters punch, throw eggs at Trump supporters in San Jose," June 3, 2016
  5. ↑ BuzzFeed, "Protesters Throw Punches, Eggs At Trump Supporters Outside San Jose Rally," June 3, 2016
  6. ↑ The Washington Post, "Anti-Trump protesters at Trump rally throw rocks, bottles at Albuquerque police," May 25, 2016
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named NBCABQ
  8. ↑ The Guardian, "Journalist who profiled Melania Trump hit with barrage of antisemitic abuse," April 28, 2016
  9. ↑ The Atlantic, "Why Won't Trump Denounce His Anti-Semitic Supporters?" May 6, 2016
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Los Angeles Times, "Protests rage outside Trump rally in Orange County; 17 arrested, police car smashed," April 29, 2016
  11. ↑ NBC News, "Men Brawl at N.Y. Trump Rally as Candidate Complains of 'Crooked' Nominating Process," April 12, 2016
  12. ↑ Salon, "Violence returns to the Trump campaign: Black protester assaulted by Trump supporters at 'New York Values' rally," April 12, 2016
  13. ↑ The Washington Post, "After alleged groping, teen Trump protester pepper-sprayed by Trump supporter outside Wis. rally," March 30, 2016
  14. ↑ Nixle, "Donald Trump Rally/Free Speech Event Press Release," March 29, 2016
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 NBC News, "Protester Punched, Kicked at Donald Trump Rally in Arizona," March 20, 2016
  16. ↑ NBC News, "Trump Campaign Denies That Video Shows Lewandowski Grabbing Protester," March 20, 2016
  17. ↑ The Guardian, "Trump says 'professional agitators' are to blame for violence at rallies," March 20, 2016
  18. ↑ The Washington Post, "Protesters block the road to Donald Trump rally near Phoenix," March 19, 2016
  19. ↑ The New York Times, "Police Use Pepper Spray to Disperse Protesters Outside Trump Rally in Kansas City," March 12, 2016
  20. ↑ The Kansas City Star, "Woman who allegedly slapped police horse at KC Trump rally is arrested," March 19, 2016
  21. ↑ ABC News, "Trump Surrounded by Secret Service as Man Tries Rushing Stage," March 12, 2016
  22. ↑ The New York Times, "Donald Trump’s Rally in Chicago Canceled After Violent Scuffles," March 11, 2016
  23. ↑ CNN, "Trump supporters, protesters clash after Chicago rally postponed," March 12, 2016
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Politico, "Inside the Protest That Stopped the Trump Rally," March 13, 2016
  25. ↑ The Chicago Tribune, "Trump returns to Illinois after canceling Friday night Chicago rally," March 13, 2016
  26. ↑ NBC Chicago, "5 Arrests Made Amid Clashes After Trump Cancels Rally," March 12, 2016
  27. ↑ Politico, "Trump campaign manager gets rough with Breitbart reporter," March 9, 2016
  28. ↑ CBS News, "Donald Trump's campaign denies getting rough with reporter," March 10, 2016
  29. ↑ Independent Journal, "Reporter Files Police Report Against Trump Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski," March 11, 2016
  30. ↑
  31. ↑ Talking Points Memo, "White Trump Supporters Shove Black Protester Out Of Kentucky Rally," March 1, 2016
  32. ↑ Marine Corps Times, "Aspiring Marine booted for harassment of black woman at Trump rally," March 4, 2016
  33. ↑ ABC News, "Photojournalist Roughed up at Donald Trump Rally in Virginia," February 29, 2016
  34. ↑ TIME, "TIME Responds to Confrontation With Secret Service at Trump Event," February 29, 2016
  35. ↑ Politico, "Probe into Secret Service-photographer altercation at Trump rally," March 7, 2016
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Politico, "Trump on protester: 'I’d like to punch him in the face,'" February 23, 2016
  37. ↑ Business Insider, "Donald Trump tells his fans to 'knock the crap out of' any protesters about to throw tomatoes at him," February 1, 2016
  38. ↑ The Washington Post, "Trump on rally protester: ‘Maybe he should have been roughed up,'" November 22, 2015
  39. ↑ CNN, "Trump: 'I want surveillance of certain mosques,'" November 21, 2015
  40. ↑ NBC Miami, "Protester Dragged Out of Trump Event by Attendee," October 24, 2015
  41. ↑ Business Insider, "'Physical altercation' breaks out between Donald Trump protesters and supporters at rally," October 15, 2015
  42. ↑ CNN, "Donald Trump: Boston beating is 'terrible,'" August 20, 2015
  43. ↑ The Boston Globe, "South Boston brothers allegedly beat homeless man," August 19, 2015
  44. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ArizonaRCP
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Huff
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Buzz
  47. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named KCM
  48. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named WaPo
  49. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AlaMM
  50. ↑ Twitter, "Donald J. Trump," August 21, 2015
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