The following appeal is being circulated on behalf of Rakeem Jones, who was assaulted by a white supremacist at a Donald Trump rally in Fayetteville, NC and attacked by police. Trump has offered to pay the legal fees of the man who punched Rakeem in the face as him and his friends were being taken out of the rally after speaking out against Trump’s racism. The man who assaulted Rakeem later made a threat against him on national television saying that “next time we might have to kill him.” Since then, Rakeem has told his account of what happened that night to countless national media outlets and why he and his friends spoke out against Trump’s racism — and has been receiving constant threats against his and his family’s safety. Below is the text from an appeal Rakeem has put out for donations to relocate his family to safety — please help circulate and donate as you are able to.
On March 9, 2016, Rakeem Jones was assaulted at a Donald Trump Campaign Event at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, NC. After being asked to leave, in the process of being escorted out by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department, Rakeem was struck in the face by a member of the crowd in front of those very same deputies.
The deputies immediately took Rakeem to the ground, and allowed the assailant to return to his seat to continue to watch the event. The department released a statement stating that deputies were not looking when the assault occurred. The assailant was arrested the next day. The CCSD is conducting an internal investigation, but has yet to acknowledge any wrong doing or justify the actions, and inaction of their deputies.
During this time of uncertainty, Rakeem has been receiving multiple death threats, one of which was internationally televised. He and his family, including a 5 year old son, have been moving place to place staying with friends and family, living in constant fear and need to secure safe cover.
