Acid Attacker: Racist Trump Language Contributes [EDITORIAL]

President Trump has made many statements that could influence racism in America. President Trump has made numerous racist claims against people of color, and people with mental health issues could be influenced to make the same claims. Trump’s rhetoric is partially responsible for the Milwaukee acid attack. 

Mahud Villalaz, a Hispanic man, was the victim in the acid attack Friday night where Clifton Blackwell allegedly threw acid on his face. Blackwell stating, “Go back, go back motherf—-r,” and allegedly called him an “illegal.” Now, Blackwell could be facing 25 years for first-degree reckless injury. Blackwell is obviously a racist, if he did what he’s accused of doing, and allegedly attacked the man based on his Hispanic appearance. His family states that he is a veteran, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. According to AP, the Marines had no record of him. 

Blackwell’s mental health makes him more likely to be influenced by Trump’s racists rhetoric. This doesn’t seem to be a Republican or Democratic issue, but there is collective responsibility for what happened to Villalaz.  Blackwell’s alleged hatred could have been growing for a large period, and finally he snapped. This doesn’t mean he doesn’t watch the news or watch videos online towards Trump. Therefore, Trump is partially responsible for the attack, and his mental health made him allegedly act violently. Trump’s rhetoric is dangerous and is partially at fault here. Villalaz must have felt terrible, and feel that he does not belong here even though he is a citizen. No one deserves to feel this way, America is their home too and deserve respect.  

A lot of racists remarks Trump has stated, have been over Twitter. A common one seems to be calling people of color “stupid” or having a “low IQ.” “Congresswoman Maxine Waters, an extraordinarily low IQ person…” Is one of the Tweets he has made. “Animals is another term he liked to call people.” “Trump said: “We have people coming into the country, or trying to come in — and we’re stopping a lot of them — but we’re taking people out of the country. You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people. These are animals. And we’re taking them out of the country at a level and at a rate that’s never happened before.” What he says can build a fire of hatred in some people if they follow what he says. Having such a negative image portrayed by Trump could be inciting violence towards people of color. What Blackwell allegedly said to Villalaz correlates with Trump’s racist rhetoric. If Blackwell saw his Tweets and the news, it could make him feel this way more strongly because a politician feels this way as well. Blackwell knew he wasn’t alone feeling this way, which made Blackwell allegedly act out violently in confidence.  

Having a President bully and call people names is embarrassing, and needs to stop. Trump need to stop inciting violence in America towards people of color. The people Trump makes tweets about must take a personal affect to it. Feeling like a target in on their back due to Trump’s rhetoric is not okay. Having them feel that America doesn’t want them here is not true. America is a free country, and everyone deserves respect regardless of where they came from. Trump’s rhetoric is partially to blame for the acid attack, and Villalaz deserves justice for what he went through.  

This editorial was based on the deliberations of a JAMS 504 editorial board.