Donald Trump wasn’t kidding when he said his rally in Birmingham, Ala., was going to be wild. We’ve seen the video, and you’ve probably seen the video as well. We’re just not sure we saw the same thing as everyone else.
While most news outlets are reporting on Donald Trump’s comments today about his desire for “surveillance of certain mosques,” CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond posted video of a black protester being “shoved, tackled, punched and kicked.”
A black protester at Trump's rally today in Alabama was shoved, tackled, punched & kicked: https://t.co/Aq0wuaAtax pic.twitter.com/cTRDMtjuBl
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) November 21, 2015
To be honest, we’re not quite sure what we’re seeing, and would certainly like to have more footage on both ends for context. There are alternative videos from other angles that aren’t getting quite as much attention as CNN’s. RT’s should be required viewing for Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards before she ever uses the term “heavily edited” again.
#BlackLivesMatter activist thrown to floor at Donald Trump rally in #Alabama https://t.co/xSexD1KbbE
— Paulina Leonovich (@Polly_evro) November 22, 2015
The link from the video to CNN’s write up of the event says there was a “scuffle”:
At least a half-dozen attendees shoved and tackled the protester, a black man, to the ground as he refused to leave the event. At least one man punched the protester and a woman kicked him while he was on the ground.
All of the attendees who were involved in the physical altercation with the protester were white.
The protester appeared to be shouting “black lives matter” and later removed his sweatshirt to reveal a shirt with those words.
CNN adds that police led three people from the building, and there were no arrests or injuries.
He’s Not Bernie Sanders – Donald Trump Deports BLM Protestor From Alabama Rally…. https://t.co/yfwpTK51HT pic.twitter.com/BtmlttbuxE
— TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) November 22, 2015
The Hill had nothing to add in its account aside from describing the event as a “physical altercation” in its headline. Stepping out of the mainstream media, Occupy Democrats ran its coverage of the altercation under the headline, “Trump’s Rally Turns To Riot As Supporters Viciously Beat Black Protester.”
So, are we going with scuffle or riot?
.@realDonaldTrump has gone from a national joke to the leader of a viciously racist, neo-fascist faction of America. https://t.co/2cp2cw6Tjp
— Tim Pate (@TimothyMPate) November 22, 2015
@realDonaldTrump I know what kind of America you want, Trump. Your KKK rally in Alabama is just a taste. It ain't gonna happen, asshole.
— Jared Wilson (@mint_state) November 22, 2015
Did bro go to Trump rally in Alabama by himself to protest?
— Silkk The Chakra (@vonteofNeWeRa) November 22, 2015
https://twitter.com/__ARS1/status/668250337212518400
https://twitter.com/brianmanasco/status/668238992723345409
https://twitter.com/JahLonBaker/status/668232166770257920
Trump rallies in Alabama look like KKK rallies with a hint of Hitler
— edson (@GucciButtcheeks) November 22, 2015
Compared to the protests outside of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, that really was a riot.
https://twitter.com/Ricky_Vaughn99/status/668167453978030081
Join the conversation as a VIP Member