Donald Trump is an extremely polarizing issue. No longer is he a joke candidate that people can just scoff at and ignore. He has become a genuine candidate whether people like it or not, and people really like him and really not. Throughout his recent campaigns he has often brought up the issue of immigration and with his non tolerance of immigrants, seemingly illegal or otherwise, people have likened his stance to white supremacy. In his many rally speeches he uses language that seems to illicit violence against Trump protesters. He has even claimed that he will “pay the legal fees” for anyone who forcibly deters protesters. What may have been in jest has erupted in some serious actions by Trump supporters.

Since Feb 29th, more than 50 people, many of them protesters, have been charged with everything from resisting arrest to assault. There are dozens of videos floating around the internet of violence breaking out from protesters and against protesters at Trump rallies. The actual number of violent incidents is impossible to count because of so many inconsistent reports and many of them go unreported. According to various police departments across the 25 Trump rallies, at least one person had to be forcibly ejected from the majority of Trump’s events. Normally, violence is a rare phenomenon at a presidential candidate rally, no matter the party. But Trump has said that he believes police are far too easy on protesters and that it’s only natural that his supporters take action. He has said “There are no consequences to protesting anymore. There used to be consequences,” at a St. Louis rally. As Trump gains more support, the more fervent and outlandish his supporters are against his protesters. Many fear that things may eventually go out of hand and lead to full scale riots.

Protesters are removed from a Donald Trump rally at the Crown Center Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C., March 9, 2016. A number of the violent incidents at Trumpís raucous rallies have had racial overtones. (Travis Dove/The New York Times)