Violence erupted on Saturday, when Donald Trump visited Tucson, Arizona’s liberal stronghold. Attendees described a poorly planned and under-secured setting for what nearly everyone anticipated to be a replay of his visit to Chicago.
Witnesses reported that attendees standing in line to enter the down town arena were accosted verbally by Trump opponents who appeared to be trying to incite physical altercations. One witness said that while many of the Trump supporters he talked to were “basically hostile, negative people” they maintain their composure as protestors “got in their face.”
As tensions increased only 8 police stood between the protestors and those trying to enter the arena.
The circus-like scene became the Theater of the Absurd when an African-American man, Tony Pettway, age 32, presumably a Trump supporter attacked a white Trump protestor wearing a Ku Klux Klan type hood. Popular conservative radio show host James T. Harris, who describes himself as an American of African descent said, “A white liberal in a Klan hood and a black man giving him a beat down? I guess the liberal was getting in touch with his Democrat Party roots.” Harris said that while it was quite a sight to an Africa American beat down a Klansman, he hoped they would both be charged.
According to witnesses the man who was beaten went inside to disrupt the event. He was seen in the parking lot prior to the event and appeared to be pretending to be a Trump supporter.
Pettway was later arrested.
VIOLENCE at another Donald Trump rally, this time in Tucson, AZ. Man hits and kicks protester: pic.twitter.com/7FWuSeE0Jt
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorpNBC) March 19, 2016
Unlike Trump’s rally held earlier in the day in Phoenix, which was attended by thousands despite the road being blocked temporarily by protestors, the Tucson Trump supporters only two-thirds of the aging arena. With a capacity of little over 6000, a black curtain was drawn across the arena to hide the thousands of empty seats.
Because Tucson is a liberal Mecca, known for its less-than-peaceful protests, it is unclear why Trump risked his supporters’ welfare by making it a spur of the moment campaign stop. One politico, who wished to remain anonymous, suggested that Trump, who has gained popularity as a victim of the left, couldn’t miss an certain opportunity be victimized.
The protestors were “home grown” according to one source. The anti-Trump crowd included Tucson’s large pro-marijuana and homeless contingencies. When asked his political views, one protestor admitted to not really having one. He admitted that he had no idea who Sen. John McCain is. McCain is Arizona’s longest serving public official.
Former Governor Jan Brewer. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio joined Trump on the stage.