Donald Trump’s Hateful Speech Encourages Hate Crime [EDITORIAL]

In 2015, Donald Trump made his way down an escalator to a Neil Young song and proceeded to tell the room full of people that Mexico is sending their rapists and drug dealers to our beloved country. He promised to stop them. This is just the beginning of a racist and pointed rhetoric that has been at the forefront of Trump’s presidency.

So then, when Clifton Blackwell is charged with throwing acid in the face of Mahud Villalaz, a U.S. Citizen from Peru, we have to beg the question: is Trump’s racist rhetoric responsible for hate crimes such as this?

Blackwell allegedly started the argument because he disagreed with Villalaz’s parking. However, with Blackwell allegedly calling Villalaz “illegal” and asked him why Villalaz invaded his country, it is clear that this crime was racially charged. 

The hate speech allegedly used by Blackwell during the attack makes it clear that there is responsibility on the President for the hate crimes happening in our country. Time and time again Trump has used tactics in his discourse that make it clear that certain groups of people do not belong in our country. He makes it a point to make races that are not white out to be scary, hateful and outsiders. 

Trump built his entire Presidential campaign on building a wall to separate Mexico and South America from the United States, insisting that our jobs are being stolen by Latin American immigrants. He has also cut off travel to and from many Middle Eastern countries, cutting off their and our citizens based off of assumed religious beliefs. 

It is also an issue that Trump’s hate speech and racist rhetoric have become inescapable to anyone who uses the internet, watches or reads the news or listens to the radio. For worse or for better, the media loves Trump, here we are talking about him today, and his social media presence is not only worrisome but demanding. 

Now, it has been brought up that Blackwell may suffer from PTSD, and although the U.S. Marines have no record under his name, his family claims that he served the country. If this is true, there is something to say about mental health issues playing a role in the responsibility of this crime. However, it is also true that Trump’s hate tactics and rhetoric are partially in place to get into the head of “displaced” white Americans. Those with mental health issues, those who are in poverty or who are uneducated. Trump’s speech is meant to convince them that Trump will solve their problems, starting with the people who are causing their problems. 

It is true that Donald Trump is not the first racist President, but the increase in public hate crimes since his Presidency is no coincidence. These crimes are direct results of Trump’s openly racist speech and behavior, and the encouragement that his supporters feel to get rid of these so-called thieves, drug dealers and rapists. 

It is Trump’s responsibility to stop speaking of certain races and ethnicities as criminals, and encourage our country to come together and celebrate each other. 

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