August 25, 2016 News & Press Releases · Press Releases and Announcements

Trump, the Alt-Right, and the Death of Civil Political Discourse in Virginia


by Democratic Party of Virginia

It's no secret that Donald Trump's candidacy has been defined by racism, Islamophobia, and hate. Trump has brought hate into the mainstream, and his dangerous rhetoric has encouraged others to spread messages of prejudice and extremism.

With the rise of Donald Trump, we've seen the degradation of civil political discourse in our Commonwealth by Trump staffers and surrogates. See for yourself:

 

Virginia Trump Field Director Posts makes anti-Islam Posts on Social Media [Associated Press,8/22/2016]  

"On Facebook, Mark Kevin Lloyd of Lynchburg, Virginia, who has been paid $36,000 as Trump's field director in the state, shared a post June 30 calling Islam "a barbaric cult." He shared a meme June 16, four days after the Orlando nightclub shooting by a heavily armed Muslim who professed allegiance to the Islamic State group. The meme said people should be forced to eat bacon before they can purchase firearms. Lloyd declined to talk to the AP without the Trump campaign's permission, citing his nondisclosure agreement with the campaign.[...] Many accounts AP reviewed embraced conspiracy theories. Lloyd, the Virginia field director, said Obama is aiding the Iranian nuclear program as part of the president's "'final solution' to the Israel problem," a phrase evoking the Holocaust."

One of Donald Trump's Virginia campaign managers called Islam a "barbaric cult" in Facebook [Virginian-Pilot, 8/22/2016]

One of Donald Trump’s Virginia campaign managers referred to Islam as a “barbaric cult” in a Facebook post that was among those singled out in an Associated Press investigation. Mark Kevin Lloyd is a deputy campaign director for Trump in Virginia and has worked for the campaign since last year. The Facebook post was published June 30. He also shared a meme after the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., saying people should be forced to eat bacon before they can purchase firearms. The gunman in that attack pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Trump campaign operative peddles conspiracy theory about Clinton's health [Loudoun Times-Mirror,8/22/2016]

A political operative for Donald Trump's campaign said Sunday that Hillary Clinton is likely to die during her first year in office should she be elected president. John E. Jaggers, the Maryland and Northern Virginia state director for Trump's campaign, continued the Republican campaign's unfounded attack on Clinton's health during a “Moms 4 Trump” rally in Loudoun County.

Muslim valedictorian targeted at Trump Rally [Washington Post, 8/2/2016]

"She helped to organize the demonstration on Facebook. While Hasan did not get in line in time to enter the rally Tuesday, she said friends and classmates lined up with Trump supporters. Once inside, they donned shirts with “#stumpTrump” and other anti-Trump slogans, locked arms and faced away from the Republican nominee for president. Hasan said her friends were escorted out by authorities. [...] Hasan remained outside, mingling and sometimes conversing with Trump supporters. She said some were cruel to her, including a boy who approached Hasan and her two younger sisters and yelled, “You’re ugly!” Some scowled silently at the sisters — who all wear head scarves — and gave them a thumbs down or a middle finger. Hasan said she believes they were targeted because they are Muslim. One man handed her a sheet of paper calling Islam a religion of rape and murder."

Trump’s Virginia chairman blames Clinton, ‘liberal politicians’ for Dallas massacre [Washington Post, 7/8/2016]

“Liberal politicians who label police as racists — specifically Hillary Clinton and Virginia Lt. Governor Ralph Northam — are to blame for essentially encouraging the murder of these police officers tonight.”

Corey Stewart: Trump’s political tone ‘is just perfect’ [WTOP, 6/10/2016]

Today, as opponents challenge Trump’s choice of words and as he readies for a battle with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, Stewart was asked about the tenor of the current political discourse. “I think the tone is just perfect,” said Stewart. “I think that people are looking for a straight talker, somebody who is going to speak their mind — people find that refreshing.”

Virginia's Trump Chairman says immigrants are "raping, they’re killing they’re assaulting, they’re committing crimes" [NBC4, 6/7/2016]

"In his response, Stewart said, "When I am governor, thugs like these will be apprehended" and that if the attackers were illegal they should be kicked out of the country. [...] They’re coming into our communities, they’re raping, they’re killing they’re assaulting, they’re committing crimes, they’re being apprehended and released by the federal government,” Stewart said.

Tom Garrett says Donald Trump "deserves a medal" for his rhetoric on illegal immigration [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/11/2016]

“Donald Trump deserves a medal for bringing attention to things people didn’t want to discuss, most notably illegal immigration,” said Garrett.

Virginia KKK leader declares Trump is best candidate for president [NBC12, 4/29/2016]

“I think Donald Trump would be best for the job,” said the Imperial Wizard. "The reason a lot of Klan members like Donald Trump is because a lot of what he believes in, we believe in..."

Trump Virginia Regional Director makes point about winning by quoting dictator Joseph Stalin [Virginian-Pilot, 3/12/2016]

Trump Regional Director and Virginia Beach resident Gary Byler quoted dictator Joseph Stalin to make a point about winning the Republican nomination stating: “Like Stalin said, ‘Whoever controls the ballot box wins the election.’"