The police had to escort a bloodied Black man out of a Donald Trump rally Friday in St. Louis, Missouri. Other violent incidents at the event were also reported on social media and local media.
Videos showed angry supporters shouting racist and sexist slurs, as well as people inciting violence. At least one person was arrested.
Battle lines drawn at Trump rally pic.twitter.com/Y9yRTnjOAm
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) March 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/708348494558445568
This guy though #TrumpRally pic.twitter.com/cfTUHfAVWu
— Marissa in STL (@STLSouthards) March 11, 2016
The Republican candidate has been increasingly criticized for inciting violence among his supporters.
During the Republican debate the night before, he justified such violence, responding to CNN anchor: “I certainly do not condone that. When (rally attendees) see what’s going on in this country, they have anger … They love this country. We have some protesters who are bad dudes, they’ve done bad things.”
An anti-Trump protest was called for later Friday in Chicago by Stop Trump-Chicago, which is expected to draw more than 10,000 people. The event was called to counter a Trump rally being held at the University of Illinois, five days before the state’s Republican primary vote.
Because of fears the rally could turn violent, over 200 university staffers launched a petition online demanding Trump rally be cancelled.
“Donald Trump is running on a platform of hate and dangerous intolerance. It has no place in Chicago but especially not at an institution of higher learning,” said the petition.
“In many instances Trump rallies have led to students, youth, and people of color being violently attacked by attendees,” the petition added.
This content was originally published by teleSUR.