COLUMBIA, S.C. — Anderson County deputies are investigating an assault complaint from President Donald Trump’s campaign rally near Clemson this week, after protesters repeatedly interrupted his speech and several scuffles broke out in the crowd.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said two incident reports came out of the Oct. 21 event at the T. Ed Garrison livestock arena in Pendleton. Trump came to the Upstate to rally voters for U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, who is in a close race with Democrat Annie Andrews for a full term in the seat once held by her late brother.
Protesters interrupted the speech about six times, some shouting that the president was a criminal. Several of those confrontations turned physical, with rally-goers trading punches and shoves with demonstrators.
The first report concerns an assault. A deputy was sent to AnMed Health, where a man reported that a stranger at the arena grabbed him in a headlock and struck him repeatedly about the head, neck and chest. Deputies noted minor bruising. No one has been arrested or charged, and the sheriff’s office said the case remains under investigation.
The second report involved a 56-year-old woman who was arrested and charged with trespassing after refusing to leave the event when told to.
Videos shared widely online show a man in a red hat throwing punches as police step in and lead a protester out while the crowd chants. Trump, from the stage, said he had seen a supporter throw a punch and thanked him. The sheriff’s office said it did not have a count of how many protesters were removed from the arena.
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