Black Lives Matter Activist Talks Assault at Donald Trump Rally
A Black Lives Matter demonstration turned violent this weekend at a Donald Trump rally in Birmingham, Alabama.
One activist, Mercutio Southall, was pummeled –– punched, kicked, and pushed by both men and women, according to various reports and a video shot by CNN. He was chanting "Black lives matter" and wearing a BLM t-shirt at the time.
"All lives matter" the Trump supporters were heard shouting as they struck.
"I'm alive,'' he later told AL.com of the incident, in his first interview since. "... They said 'Go home, n****r, and somebody punched me. I punched back. You know don't do the turn-the-other-cheek [expletive]... I got enough people off of me that I was able to get up a little bit. Somebody got behind me and started trying to choke me out."
Secret Service agents and Birmingham police eventually escorted him out of the room. Though no arrests were made, Southall said he would support an investigation. "I would love for them to experience a little bit of what I go through,'' he said.
No medical attention was given (he said, he doesn't think he was seriously injured) and at least three of the ralliers were asked to leave.
"The [Trump] campaign does not condone this behavior," a spokeswoman declared.
See the video and watch the BET News Special: Bernie Sanders On Racial Justice, below.
(Photo: Eric Schultz/AP Images)
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