Donald Trump's rallies aren't known for civility, but things turned downright violent at a North Carolina event.
An unidentified Trump supporter sucker-punched protester Rakeem Jones at a rally in Fayetteville on Wednesday.
The incident occurred as Jones was being escorted out of the building by police. In video capturing the punch, Jones, surrounded by officers, was climbing stairs toward the exit. He turned to give the middle finger to the crowd, when a man sporting a black vest and a long ponytail sucker-punched him in the face.
Officers proceeded to put the victim—and not the assailant—in handcuffs.
Ronnie C. Rouse, a friend who was accompanying Jones, took video of officers swarming Jones when he was on the ground. Rouse repeatedly asked officers to "'chill" on Jones' behalf, but they continued to handle him roughly.
Speaking with The Washington Post, Jones took issue with how officers treated him after he had been attacked.
"It’s happening at all these rallies now and they’re letting it ride,” he said. "The police jumped on me like I was the one swinging.”
He added, "The shock of it all is starting to set in. It’s like this dude really hit me and they let him get away with it. I was basically in police custody and got hit.”
According to Jones, he and three friends, each representing a demographic that Trump has derided in some way (a woman, a Muslim, and a gay man) attended the rally. Jones said they may have been vocal, but that would practically describe everyone there to see the GOP frontrunner. He added that he and his friends never got physical with anyone in the crowd.
That didn't matter, however, because officers moved to eject Jones after the crowd chanted for him to leave.
Inside Edition published video showing the assailant talking about Jones. When asked what he liked about the event, he answered, "Knocking the hell out of that big mouth."
He added, "Next time, we might have to kill him."
Considering the growing concern that Trump is provoking white supremacy, including an increasing number of comments equating him with Adolf Hitler, the behavior at his rallies continues to reflect a divisive attitude.
This concern has extended to the GOP Party, which has taken unprecedented steps in the weeks leading up to the March 15 primaries in Florida, Ohio, Illinois, and other big states to stop Trump, by arguing that any other candidate would be a better choice.
Trump, for his part, doesn't seem inclined to disavow himself from the behavior that continues to erupt at his rallies. Speaking with Good Morning America on Monday about people comparing him to Hitler, he said, "I have a tremendous following."
It's a following that grows more fervent with each day.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to NTRSCTN's request for comment.
UPDATED 3:18 p.m. ET: Local journalists have reported that John McGraw, 78, of Linden, North Carolina, was charged with assault on Thursday morning for the attack.
John McGraw, 78 of Linden NC charged with battery after punching protester at Trump Rally yesterday.
The man who punched Trump protester is 78-year-old John McGraw. He is being charged with assault and disorderly conduct, per local PD
#update 78 yr old John McGraw of Linden charged with assault at last night's Trump rally in Fayetteville.@WRAL @wral pic.twitter.com/PsSgTxROxc
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office told the Wall Street Journal that it's investigating why officers tackled Jones instead of McGraw.
This article has been updated to include video from Inside Edition.
