Former 2016 White House hopeful Ben Carson suggested on Monday that Donald Trump’s campaign rallies could attract even more violence in the coming weeks if Trump’s opponents continue trying to disrupt those events.
“I think, certainly, if the protesters continue with their Alinsky-ite tactics, there is a real possibility of escalation, because those who are the victims of them have two choices,” Carson told NBC News. “They can submit to them and meekly just do whatever those protesters want them to do, or they can fight back.”
“And if they decide to fight back, there could be an escalation,” he said.
The retired pediatric neurosurgeon would not say whether he thinks Trump, who he recently endorsed for president, is partially responsible for the massive protests that forced him to cancel a rally in Chicago last Friday, or for the frequent outbursts of violence at his rallies.
“The problem is that there are those who are being taught that if someone disagrees with you, you have the right to interfere with their First Amendment rights, their ability to express themselves, their freedom of speech,” Carson said. “That’s where the emphasis needs to be.”
“Now, when people do things wrong such as that, it causes other people to react in a way that is negative, and therefore you see that reaction,” he added. “I think that this is a wonderful opportunity for Mr. Trump, for Bernie Sanders, for [Hillary] Clinton, for the other Republicans, to really stand up and to start talking to people about what First Amendment rights are, why they are so important as a part of the foundation of our country.”
Trump said Sunday that the recent protests seen at his rallies were fueled by Americans’ anger over a struggling economy and other issues.
“The people are angry at that,” the GOP front-runner told MSNBC’s Chuck Todd on Sunday. “They’re not angry about something I’m saying. I’m just the messenger.”
