“Secret Service” is floating up and down among Twitter’s trending topics Monday night, and it’s no surprise that journalists in particular are concerned with an incident at a Donald Trump rally today in which a Secret Service agent providing security at the rally choke-slammed Christopher Morris, a photographer for TIME, in a particularly quick and violent fashion.
A handful of tweeters laid the blame at Trump’s feet, implying that his rhetoric inspires violent behavior. Jay Rosen, who teaches journalism at NYU, predicts that more such incidents will occur before the campaign is over.
I think we all sense that eventually at a Trump rally real violence with real horror and injury is going to go down. https://t.co/hHEjDucIHn
— Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) February 29, 2016
Keeping in mind that we’re apparently narrowing the liberal definition of violence to its traditional meaning, does MSNBC’s Christopher Hayes agree that “real violence” is inevitable?
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 29, 2016
One implication that can be drawn from Rosen’s tweet is that “real” violence hasn’t yet occurred at a Trump rally, and yet reporters have for months been documenting violent breakouts at Trump events.
In Alabama last November, for example, a CNN reporter claimed that a black protester at a Trump rally was “shoved, tackled, punched and kicked,” while Occupy Democrats reported that “Trump’s Rally Turns To Riot As Supporters Viciously Beat Black Protester.” CNN later reported there were no injuries, and the viciously beaten man can be seen being escorted from the rally without any visible difficulty.
In December, a correspondent for Jewish Insider also witnessed a Trump supporter “beat the shit out of a protester,” who also was escorted out without any visible bruises but bearing a huge smile.
So, has the “real horror” already gone down, or is it just beginning?
@chrislhayes Altamont 1969….. it'll happen
— Dana P (@blackhillslvr) February 29, 2016
@chrislhayes And his supporters won't care a whit.
— Jim Fortney (@jimfortney) February 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/brigode/status/704428044866301953
@chrislhayes @jayrosen_nyu @mashable Drumpf will have the Klan act as security like the Hells Angels at Altamont.
— Liddell (@billliddell) February 29, 2016
@chrislhayes @jayrosen_nyu @mashable Just a matter of time before "Trump's Altamont." Let's hope his security is not Hells Angels on acid!
— Dr. Roy Mingo/Gonzo® (@gonzomingle) February 29, 2016
Is “Altamont” today’s secret word on “All In”? The man involved was a Secret Service agent, as the Secret Service itself acknowledged in a tweet.
https://twitter.com/orinocoflobee/status/704428629522935808
@chrislhayes @jayrosen_nyu @mashable Been saying this for weeks. Very frightening and frustrating. How can we get this crazy train derailed
— Kat Smith (@Kat_MarieSmith) February 29, 2016
@chrislhayes @jayrosen_nyu @mashable Sad, terrifying and true. Trump brings out the worst in his crowds and cares not about consequences.
— Joan Anzelmo (@JoanAnzelmo) February 29, 2016
@chrislhayes @jayrosen_nyu @mashable after seeing this today,yes. Trump just purposely incites people. This is not what our country wants!
— sandismall (@SmallSandi) February 29, 2016
@chrislhayes @jayrosen_nyu yes that is almost inevitable when preaching that much hate
— David (@David03404811) February 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/shaker0309/status/704428440745738240
@chrislhayes And, in keeping with the authoritarian tradition, it will be blamed on the dissident "troublemakers"
— Kevin McHargue (@kevinpdx314) February 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/David_Sucher/status/704432049399078912
https://twitter.com/stanveuger/status/704432458490646529
@stanveuger @chrislhayes I think a protestor will be beaten pretty badly, like a Rodney King situation.
— Seth Stephens-Davidowitz (@SethS_D) February 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/stanveuger/status/704433338199764993
@stanveuger @chrislhayes no, of course not.
— Seth Stephens-Davidowitz (@SethS_D) February 29, 2016
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