awful things

There Have Been at Least 9 Violent Attacks on Women by Trump Supporters

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump has run a campaign rife with sexist and racist rhetoric (and that’s not even taking into account all the sexual-assault allegations against him) — so it’s no surprise that his rallies have featured supporters proudly flaunting misogynistic gear, and that the online harassment of women and minorities has flourished during this election cycle. But his speeches have also translated into his supporters engaging in real-life harassment and violence against groups targeted by the campaign. Here is a list of violent attacks by Trump supporters on women because of their gender, race, or religion.

Trump Supporter Threatened to Beat Up Black Woman — October 2016
A 55-year-old man in Albany, New York, was arrested after approaching a 27-year-old black woman outside a grocery store and yelling, “You [racial slur] had your time. Your eight years are up.” He also added, “Trump is going to win and if you don’t like it I’m going to beat your ass.”

Man Says, “I Can’t Wait Until Trump Gets Elected So I Can Force Bitches Like You Down on Your Knees” — October 2016
Writer Sara Nović shared a screenshot of a text message from her younger sister, in which she described being pestered by a man in Penn Station until she told him, “I don’t mean to be rude at all, but I’m just not interested.” He reportedly replied, “Wooowww, fucking bitch! I can’t wait until Trump gets elected so I can force bitches like you down on your knees when you talk like that.”

College Student Followed and Assaulted by Trump Supporter — October 2016
Katie Zurbrick, a senior at Portland State University, told KATU that a stranger approached her with a video camera and asked her if she wanted to be on “Trump TV.” After she declined, he reportedly began to shout expletives and sexual slurs at her, only to grab her phone, attempt to destroy it, and shove her out of the way until she screamed and he ran off.

69-Year-Old Woman Punched in the Face at a Rally — September 2016
At a rally in Asheville, North Carolina, a 69-year-old protester named Shirley Teter who was hooked up to an oxygen tank says she was punched right in the face by a Trump supporter after she told him that he should learn Russian. “He turned around and just cold-cocked me,” she claimed.

Muslim Women Attacked by Someone Trying to Rip Their Head Scarves Off — September 2016
Two Muslim women pushing their strollers in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, were attacked by Emirjeta Xhelili, a 32-year-old woman who allegedly yelled, “Get the fuck out of here, get the fuck out of America, bitches,” while punching and kicking them. She also tried to rip their head scarves off. Upon investigating her Facebook and Twitter accounts, it was found that she posted messages like, “America is the ark of Noah. Trump’s gonna win.”

Muslim Woman Attacked Outside D.C. Starbucks — May 2016
A white blonde woman reportedly began to verbally harass a black Muslim woman on the patio of a Washington, D.C., Starbucks, and ultimately threw a “liquid-like substance” at her. Per DCist, the victim told CAIR [the Council on American Islamic Relations] that the suspect said that she was voting for Donald Trump in hopes “that he would send ‘all of you terrorist Muslims out of this country.’”

Woman Punched in Face Because of Trump Micropenis Painting — April 2016
Illma Gore, a 24-year-old artist, created a now-viral painting of Donald Trump, nude and with a micropenis. But while many of us had a laugh about it, Gore alleges that she “was punched in the face by a man who got out of his car and yelled, ‘Trump 2016!’”

Teen Girl Pepper-Sprayed at Trump Rally — March 2016
A 15-year-old girl protesting outside of a Trump rally was called a “bitch,” a “communist,” and a “n—-r lover” before getting brutally pepper-sprayed.

Protester Screamed at and Pushed Out of Rally — March 2016
At a Super Tuesday rally in Louisville, Kentucky, back in March, a young black protester was screamed at by a man in a Make America Great hat and roughly shoved out of the event.

Violence Committed Against Women by Trump Supporters