“America Is Not Great”: Trump Supporters Allegedly Forced Off Road In Indiana

Authored by Jonathan Turley,

We have been discussing how the media coverage on political-related violence often downplays attacks on conservatives.

I have repeatedly criticized Trump for his rhetoric, but I also see dangerous rhetoric coming from his critics. That is not covered as much and certainly not treated as a pattern is violence against conservatives and Republicans or motivated by the politics from the left.

Another such example can be found in Indiana where Kyren Gregory Perry-Jones, 23, and Cailyn Marie Smith, 18, are accused of using their car to force two twin brothers off a road after they were spotted bicycling with flags supporting Trump.

Police say that the two followed the boys and then pulled up to ask “if they were Trump supporters.”

When they said that they were, the driver allegedly swerved at the boys and forced them off the road. The driver then got out, tore away the flags, and then ran over the flags.

Police reviewed a video posted to Snapchat where “the driver turns the wheel sharply as if he saw the boys and wanted to hit them with the vehicle while yelling ‘ya’ll better get home.’”

A male’s voice is heard telling the female passenger “pull that flag down” and shows the female trying to reach it through her window while saying, “get closer.”

The police then stated that the female is then heard saying “ya’ll scared, just like your president” and “America is not great.”

Perry-Jones and Smith are now charged with two felony counts of intimidation and criminal recklessness as well as one misdemeanor count each of theft and criminal mischief.

My concern is not with the criticism of Trump for some of his rhetoric or the coverage of violence by conservatives. Rather I am concerned that the relative light coverage of the inverse violence is due to the fact that it does not fit a narrative of Trump coverage.

As I discussed in a prior column, rhetoric can be triggering but there is plenty reckless rhetoric on both sides to trigger violence.