Donald Trump has become so polarizing he can barely hold an event without it being interrupted by protestors or devolving into fist-fights among the crowd.
A protestor who rushed the stage at a Trump rally in Dayton, Ohio on Saturday was arrested and released on bail later that night. The incident came just one day after the Republican front-runner was forced to cancel an event in Chicago due to violent protestors in the crowd.
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In Dayton, a man broke through the cordon of Secret Service surrounding Trump and ran at the stage, before he was subdued by several members of Trump’s security detail. Four agents surrounded Trump on the stage, while another held the would-be assailant in a headlock.
The intentions of the man were unclear, but from the video, it appeared he was attempting to attack the candidate from behind while Trump was addressing the crowd.
A visibly shaken Trump thanked the audience after the commotion calmed down. “Kick his a** Donald!” a supporter yelled. Other Trump supporters could be heard yelling “F**k you!” at the attacker. The excited crowd then broke into cheers of ‘USA! USA! USA!’
The protester, identified as Tommy DiMassimo, was arrested for inducing panic and disorderly conduct, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office.
A YouTube video from April of last year shows DiMassimo participating in a Black Lives Matter protest at Wright State University, during which he dragged and stepped on an American flag.
According to DiMassimo’s Twitter account, his actions at the Dayton rally were premeditated.
DiMassimo apparently uses the Twitter handle @Younglionking7. Here are some of his tweets:
Yesterday, he asked followers to let him know if they planned to attend the Trump rally in Dayton. He even let everyone know what he was planning to do.
Look man if any y’all folk from Ohio near Dayton Tryna hit this trump rally tomorrow let me know
— MARLON BANDO (@Younglionking7) March 12, 2016
One of DiMassimo’s tweets showed he was no longer in custody.
Fuck you bitch @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/q6bQXyBbhk
— MARLON BANDO (@Younglionking7) March 12, 2016
He also tweeted about what he planned to do if he made it on stage, and claimed he did not intend to harm Trump.
Snag the mic make my case https://t.co/5TgTmVuCus
— MARLON BANDO (@Younglionking7) March 13, 2016
Just maybe punch him.
Watch what happened at the Dayton rally in the video below:
