Statement by NARAL president on violence at Trump events, alleged assault on a reporter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2016

After two assaults at Donald Trump events in the last 48 hours, NARAL Pro-Choice America called for the Trump campaign to take immediate action to curtail the alarming rise in violent incidents. With a man being charged with assaulting an African American protestor at a rally yesterday and reports surfacing this evening that a female reporter was manhandled by Donald Trump’s campaign manager on Tuesday night, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue issued the following statement:

“We are deeply troubled by the alarming rise in violent incidents at Trump events and by new reports that a female reporter was violently assaulted by Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski. Physically assaulting anyone is not only beneath the dignity of a presidential campaign, it is beneath the basic human decency we expect from every single member of our society. Donald Trump needs to decry these assaults in the strongest possible terms and take immediate action to curb the alarming rise of violence at his campaign events. Donald Trump’s staff and supporters take cues from him on what constitutes appropriate behavior so it is up to him to lead by example and foster the civil debate that is the cornerstone of our peaceful democracy.

“Additionally, if the allegations against his campaign manager are true, Corey Lewandowski should immediately resign from the Trump campaign and fully cooperate with any investigation by law enforcement. If Donald Trump wants to be president of the United States, it time that he and his campaign start acting like it.”

###