Stories are surfacing of acts of bullying, harassment and even assaults by supporters of Donald Trump in the wake of his electoral-college victory on Nov. 8th. ThinkProgress reports that two days after the election Muslims across the country have been victimized in various incidents by Trump supporters; they also report that such attacks in the U.S. had been on the increase anyway. The same goes for Mexican Americans. In Los Angeles, hate crimes against Latinos had increased by 69 percent in the last year, and that was before Trump said Mexicans were rapists. The Independent in the UK reports on one incident in which a man threatened to “turn the tables” on Trump’s claim:
Hispanic Americans and those of perceived Mexican heritage were also being targeted, with a woman saying an “older white man” threatened to sexually assault her and threw water over her hours after the election result.
“I was harassed by an older white man who presumed I was Mexican,” Rhio Oracion wrote.
“[He said]: ‘I can’t wait until Trump asks us to rape your people and send you back over the biggest damn wall we’re going to build. Go back to hell, wet back’.
“After saying all of that, he threw the water in his cup in my face, gave me the middle finger, and ran off.
“I’m in tears right now. I’ve never been terrified of being a woman and a minority until today.”
These increased—and increasing—attacks are frightening, truly they are, but probably not as frightening as those coming from children. CHILDREN. Numerous reports of children in high schools and middle schools began coming in the morning after Trump’s selection as president.
In Michigan:
A small group of students at Royal Oak Middle School in Detroit, Michigan broke out into chants of “Build the wall” the day after the election, according to The Detroit News.
According to a Facebook video of the event that has now gone viral, “Latino children were crying.” Dee Perez-Scott, who posted the video, said, “the taunts, the “Build that Wall” with such bullying power and hate from children to children. Just Horrifying!”
In Minnesota:
Just hours after Donald Trump won 2016 presidential race, students at Maple Grove High School returned to class to find racist messages inspired by the GOP candidate.
On Wednesday, a father of a Maple Grove student posted on Facebook images of graffiti that were taken by his son.
“He does not feel safe at his own school any more,” Fred Ndip said. “I am not sure what to tell him!”
The photos show a locker door with large letters that read: “F*ck N****rs”
Other messages on the door included: “F*ck all porch monkeys,” “Whites only” and “White America.”
The words “Trump Train” were also on the door.
A second image showed a toilet paper dispenser with the words “Make America Great Again.”
In Pennsylvania:
“ … York NAACP President Sandra Thompson revealed that she had been receiving reports of students at York Vo-Tech “being spit on, attacked, and called names because of their race or perceived Immigrant status.””
“One concerned parent provided video of students at the school holding a Donald Trump campaign sign while shouting ‘white power.’”
“The group “Parents of York County School of Technology Students” said on Facebook that members had received reports that “Trump’s presidential win was announced at school today amidst chants of ‘white power.’ That white students referred to other races as their slaves, and at some points even spit on those students.””
We’re talking about children in middle school and high school. Colleges and universities across the U.S. have also reported similar incidents, but those student bodies are made up of people aged 18—the legal age for an adult—and up.
This cannot be taken lightly. Again, in his acceptance speech early on the morning of Nov. 9, Donald Trump sounded like a rational, human being after months of spewing xenophobic, racist, sexist, homophobic venom. It is imperative that the president-elect condemn the deeds of his zealous followers in the strongest terms possible. Now.
Trump’s words set these acts in motion. His words can put a halt to them.
Friday, Nov 11, 2016 · 8:18:20 PM +00:00
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Thandisizwe Chimurenga
from The Raw Story: At First Coast High School in Jacksonville, Florida, vandals posted two signs over the public water fountains in an act of racial intimidation.
“Whites only,” said one sign, according to Action News Jacksonville, and the other said, “Colored.”
[...]
Duval County Public School spokeswoman Laureen Ricks said in a statement, “School is investigating, but it appears to be a prank. Staff immediately removed the notes once it was brought to their attention.”