Anti-Trump protester pushed down stairs as political street fighting sweeps US
Wave of politically-motivated attacks continue in wake of Donald Trump's election win.
An anti-Donald Trump protester was assaulted while speaking at a rally at an Ohio university in the latest violence to emerge as political street fights have broken out following the election.
"You idiot!" the assailant shouts before pushing protester Timothy Adams down a flight of steps during an anti-Trump march at Ohio State University Monday (14 November).
The attacker, a student at the school named Shane Michael Stanton is immediately grabbed and led away by police in a video. The protesters then shout "shame!"
Stanton has been suspended from the university the school's student government president Gerard Basalla told the campus newspaper The Lantern.
"I think, if anything, tonight shows that we really need to bring people into social movements, bring people into social organisations and to come out for each other and stand up for each other," Adams said after the attack. "Ultimately, coming together is the only thing that's going to stop any kind of violence."
The assault is just the latest example of violent street fights that have targeted people based on their political views washing across the United States following Republican Donald Trump's election win.
In Chicago last week a white man was pulled from his car and beaten by two black men following a minor traffic accident. In a video of the beating that appeared online, a woman is heard shouting "You voted Trump! You voted Trump!" during the attack.
Another video shows teen Jade Armenio being punched outside her high school in California because she showed support for Donald Trump's election win on social media.
An anti-Trump protest in Portland, Oregon, descended into a riot as some protesters smashed car window, grafittied buildings, and knocked out power by smashing an electrical box.
Attacks and threats to minorities from Trump supporters have also cropped up on streets and in schools throughout the country. The Southern Poverty Law Center has tracked 200 incidents of hate-fuelled harassment and intimidation against minorities following the election.
A spokesman from Ohio State University stressed the need for calm and free political dialogue following a heated election.
"We witnessed a disturbing incident at a political demonstration on our campus this afternoon," said university spokesman Chris Davey to the campus paper. "The safety of our students and freedom of speech are bedrock, immutable principles that are the foundation of our university."
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