Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Progressive American

Violence By Trump Supporters and Fake Conservative Outrage

Last updated on: June 23, 2017 at 12:26 pm   by John WL Berry

Violence By Trump Supporters and Fake Conservative Outrage 2017-06-23T12:26:56-04:00 John WL Berry

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Talking heads and political pundits on the right are wringing their hands about the “ominous” increase in violence from the left. But they have been very silent or dismissive of the violence incited by Trump and carried out by his supporters over the last couple years. Let’s look closer.

Donald Trump Campaigning

Trump Urged Violence At His Rallies.

According to conservative radio host Mark Levin he is concerned about the rise in violence on the left and says:

“The language is violent, the conduct is violent, and that it is getting increasingly more dangerous. Now, of course, the point is that you have kooks out there. You have people who are on the edge. When you dumb down or mainstream violence, these people become violent and they act out.”

Of the violent language hurled at Trump Levin goes on to say, quite preposterously:

“I don’t remember any of that happening with Obama, or Bill Clinton,” he added, asserting the left’s use of violent rhetoric and its insinuations and threats of violence are “beyond the pale.”

I will only briefly note that a recent Oval Office guest and friend of Trump’s, Ted Nugent, has called for the death of Hillary Clinton, President Obama, and others. He has also engaged in the very same violent (and obscene) rhetoric that Levin and the right now find so abhorrent. Their fake outrage would be comical if it were not so sad and pathetic.

A Few Dozen Examples Of Trump Inspired Conservative Violence

Donald Trump incited violence and offered to pay legal fees of people who assaulted others. Read more here.

A Trump supporter yelled, “Make America Great Again!” before shooting 6 people dead. Read more here.

A Trump supporter wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat murdered 2 strangers for no reason. Read more here.

A Trump supporter murdered 2 police officers because they told him he couldn’t wave a Confederate flag at a high school football game. Read more here.

Two men beat a homeless man with a metal bar and urinated on him screaming, “Donald Trump was right, all these illegals need to be deported.” When asked for a comment about the incident Trump decried violence but then equivocates and defends them saying, “My supporters are very passionate. They love this country and they want this country to be great again.” What?!? They want the country to be great again by beating a homeless man? Read more here.

A Trump supporter attacked a Hispanic man and a Muslim student at a gas station while yelling, “Trump! Trump! Trump!” Read more here.

A Trump supporter attacked Muslim woman at airport. Read more here.

69-year-old punched by Trump supporter

69-year-old punched by Trump supporter

A Trump supporter punched a 69 year old protester in the face. Read more here.

A Trump supporter was arrested for brutally beating protester. Read more here.

3 Trump supporters were arrested for planning a terrorist attack to kill Muslims. Read more here.

A Trump supporter confuses an Indian man for a Muslim at restaurant and says, “Things are different now, I don’t want you sand n*ggers sitting next to me.” Before attacking the man. “We got a new President you fucking f*ggots.” Read more here.

Trump supporters tracked down and brutally beat an artist because she made a painting of Trump with a small penis. Read more here.

A Trump supporter who sucker punched protester said, “Next time, we might have to kill them.” Read more here.

John McGraw: “Next time, we might have to kill them.” (Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office)

John McGraw: “Next time, we might have to kill them.” (Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office)

When Trump is asked to comment on his supporters brutally beating a black man, he responds by saying, “Maybe he should have been roughed up. Read more here.

A Trump supporter went on a vulgar racist tirade on a Texas beach in front of children. Read more here.

A Trump supporter pepper sprayed a 15-year-old girl point-blank in the face after another Trump supporter groped her breasts, shouting “n*gger lover” as she attempted to run away. Read more here.

In my home state of Maine a Trump supporter approached a black man and said, “Donald Trump will deport you.” He then punched the man. Read more here.

A Trump supporter yelled “Trump is going to win and if you don’t like it I’m going to beat your ass,” at a random black woman outside of convenience store. Read more here.

A Trump supporter attacked and kicked Muslim airport employee shouting, “Trump is here now, he will get rid of all of you.” Read more here.

A Trump supporter tried to run down a Latino Democratic political candidate and his elderly mother. Read more here.

A Trump supporter yelled, “This is for Donald Trump!” as he ran up to a Latino person and punched him in the head. Read more here.

A Trump supporter punched someone at a Hillary Clinton event. Read more here.

A Trump supporter punched protesters on video during rally. Read more here.

A Trump supporter yelled, “Get your black kids out of here. Do you even have a job? Do you know what a job is, n*gger?” Then she assaulted the man. Read more here.

A Trump supporter, Republican politician Christopher von Keyserling, grabbed woman “by the pu**y” because “he doesn’t have to be PC anymore” now that Trump is president.  Read more here.

A Trump supporter, a Canadian white nationalist, murdered 6 people in a mosque in Canada. Read more here.

A Trump supporter attacked comedian John Caparulo on stage for making an anti-Trump joke. Read more here.

A Trump supporter yelled, “Trump” while beating African immigrant cab driver. Read more here.

A Trump supporter was arrested for burning a Mosque down. Read more here.

Windows Shot Out Of Our Table Restaurant Olympia Washington

Windows Shot Out Of Our Table Restaurant Olympia Washington

A Trump supporter terrorized a 75 year-old motorist who had pro-gay bumper stickers on his car. He screamed: “My new president says we can kill all you faggots now.” Read more here.

“There was blood everywhere,” was the comment of witnesses to describe the scene of an attack on two gay men by Trump supporters. Read more here.

A Muslim refugee gay rights activist was kidnapped and raped in retaliation for, “Trump being mocked.” Read more here.

A Trump supporter was arrested on terrorism charges for building bombs he was going to use to kill Muslims. Read more here.

A Trump supporter spray-painted a transgender veterans car with the word “Trump” and then set it on fire. Read more here.

A Trump supporter attacked two Muslim women and tried to push over a stroller with a baby in it while screaming, “Get the fuck out of America.” Read more here.

A Trump supporter shoots out the windows of two businesses from a car while shouting, “Hail Trump.” Read more here.

No Place For Violence, Or Hypocrisy, In American Politics

In the aftermath of the attack on Republican members of congress practicing for a baseball game there was justifiable outrage by people of all political flavors. Somewhat predictably, many claimed that “liberal rhetoric” was to blame for the attack. According to Rep Steve King (R-NY):

“America has been divided. And the center of America is disappearing, and the violence is appearing in the streets, and it’s coming from the left.”

I say to Mark Levin, Rep. King, and other conservatives who put the blame for the violence in America on the left: you are a part of the problem. Your silence at the incidents I have posted here, your silence as Donald Trump encouraged violence during the campaign, and your failure to confront and seek solutions to all forms of violence in American life is a big part of the problem. Save us the lectures about the left. You are leaders of the right. Begin at home and we will take you seriously. Otherwise your outrage is phony and your statements are simply political opportunism.

The response from the left has been consistent and loud: there is no place for violence in America. But we must be vigilant and not become so weary at the hypocrisy of others that we start to equivocate. We cannot make “yeah, but” statements when it comes to violence. We cannot say we condemn violence but “understand” how people were driven to it. Injustice met with violence simply produces more injustice. We must use these incidents to learn, to teach, and to lead. I believe there is a greatness and a goodness in America that can be tapped and used to make America a far better nation. This begins by being consistent, logical, and kind.

As the Trump experiment falters and fails we will need to be vigilant. We will need to applaud goodness wherever we find it and condemn evil. Progressives will need to build communities of diverse people and diverse thought. None of this is easy. But it is necessary. And it is what we do.

Follow John at Facebook and on Twitter.

Thanks to the Facebook poster who wishes to remain anonymous for the inspiration for this article.

Update 6/17/17 – 11:05AM: I have been contacted by three people who all claim they were the original author of the post that this was based on. I acknowledged when this was published that this was inspired by someone else. I did a few hours research finding sources for all of the statements and altered or eliminated them for clarity and truthfulness. Thanks to all of the authors for their work on this article.

Trump

Politics

Violence

Previous Post



June 2, 2017

Confronting The Destroyers Of The Earth

Next Post



September 5, 2017 President Obama's Perfect Response to Trump's Repeal of DACA


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Healthcare Immigration Justice System Lie of the Day Poverty Racism Trump Uncategorized

Select a Month November 2018 February 2018 January 2018 September 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017


Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian group is associated with the "Anabaptist" tradition?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Episcopalians Calvinists Lutherans Mennonites

Related posts from Progressive American

Progressive Christian

Me, God, And Trump's Hypocritical Supporters Are OK...

Progressive American

Progressive Christian

Conservatives Make God Complicit In Evil

Progressive American

Progressive Christian

Dr. King Is Safely Dead

Progressive American

Progressive Christian

Mike Pence Would Be Far Worse Than Donald...

Progressive American

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian

Why Christians Have a Sacred Duty to Vote:...

The Bible offers strong support for the sacred duty to vote. Here...

What Being a Modern-Day Apostle Means to Me

In my last column, I discussed the ins and outs of modern-day...

Did Ancient China Once Worship the God of...

Across human history, a common thread weaves through the origins of the...

Love Your Neighbor – Including Earth-Kin: Lev. 19,...

God’s command to love your neighbor means acting in an ethical and...

Lead a Church Study of “Jesus and Lao...

Guest writer Jack Thomas (The Irreverent Reverend) reflects on leading his church...

Principles for Understanding the Apostolic Ministry Today

Whenever people discover that my formal ministry title is "apostle," as in...

view all Progressive Christian blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube