Berkeley police officers arrested two men who attacked a student on the University of California, Berkeley campus Thursday, one day after a violent riot broke out in opposition to conservative speaker Milo Yiannopoulos. What triggered the attack? The young man was wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap.
The thugs beat the Trump supporter in the middle of the day — perhaps emboldened by Wednesday night’s lack of law enforcement action — while workers in downtown Berkeley banks and businesses were busy replacing broken windows, repairing damaged ATMs, and cleaning graffiti from brick walls.
Amid the cleanup, a 21-year-old student who supports Trump was brazenly attacked on campus. The student, Jack Palkovic, was wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap as he headed to class when a white SUV slammed to a halt, and two students jumped out and pummeled him. Police arrived and arrested both men.
Many students shook their heads at the violence and what it means at a place like Berkeley.
“Berkeley has always stood for self-expression,” said Russell Ude, a 20-year-old football player. “Things like this discredit peaceful protest.”
Freshman Grace Schnetzler, 18, said she worked hard in high school to attend Berkeley and was upset outside demonstrators were diminishing the campus’ reputation for free speech and tolerance.
“On the other hand, I don’t know why he picked Berkeley,” Schnetler said about Yiannopoulos. “What kind of reception did he expect?”
Taking that question a step further, what kind of reception did that Trump-supporting Jack Palkovic expect? He’s at Berkeley, for heaven’s sake. Maybe he shouldn’t wear his “Make America Great Again” hat proudly in public where it can offend the religious sensibilities of progressives who may see it. That’s just asking for trouble in a land where political thuggery against conservatives is starting to become a tolerated and accepted practice.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member