Derision towards Michelle Fields at Donald Trump’s Janesville rally was unfortunately not the worst moment of the event. A 15-year-old protester was pepper sprayed after allegedly being sexually assaulted outside of the Holiday Inn Express assembly.
Violence and verbal abuse has continually followed Donald Trump around the country like a shadow. He incites his supporters to turn against those who don’t believe in his xenophobic and hateful message. However, these public displays of abuse had not yet taken the turn against minors.
It is unclear in the video whether the victim had previously been sexually assaulted as she has claimed, but the incident involving the pepper spray was caught directly on camera. Be aware the language in the video is explicit:
This 15-year-old protestor at a Trump rally was pepper-sprayed at an extremely close range:https://t.co/xIMTcjcIGF
— Mic (@mic) March 30, 2016
Dan Crandall, the man accused of groping the teenager, denied any wrongdoing. He can be seen in the video clearly denying the accusations of the young woman. This specific portion of the incident is important (sexual assault on any woman cannot be overlooked), but the most unsettling issue is how entrenched Trump’s supporters have become with the use of assault and abuse on a consistent basis.
Whether we have a man pointing people “back to Auschwitz,” a man assaulting protesters, or a woman publicly displaying a Nazi salute, it is undeniable what the underlying message of the Trump campaign is: Make America great by hating your neighbor.
The hubris of one man has bled into those who follow him, emboldening masses to speak freely of their prejudice. Protesters have shown up at every corner of the country to denounce Trump ideology and support, often leading to conflict.
The affair involving a 15-year-old girl has brought things to a head. When American citizens are turning on their own youth, it shakes to the core. It can be argued that the age of the girl could be unknown. However, when grown men have been inspired to attack what is clearly a young woman for disagreeing with their cause we have become a nation torn asunder, and it appears we are far from the end.
