We often discuss how defendants undermine their cases with statements to the press or on social media. The latest example is John McGraw, 78, who assaulted a protester, 26-year-old Rakeem Jones, at a Donald Trump rally in North Carolina. Despite already being in hot water over the disgraceful attack, McGraw told Inside Edition “Next time we see him, we might have to kill him!” That should make for an interesting sentencing hearing.
McGraw appears quite proud of being a thug. He added “We don’t know who he is. He might be with a terrorist organization.” Well, that assumption is more likely to be made to the guy who violently attacked someone who was protesting a presidential candidate.
The attack was not only criminal but cowardly. Jones was being escorted out and McGraw sucker punched him. He then bragged on television: “You bet I liked it . . . Knocking the hell out of the big mouth.”
McGraw, a retired horse handler and artist, is now charged him with assault and battery and disorderly conduct. Given his lack of remorse and subsequent implied threat, the court should impose the maximum penalty. I cannot imagine a fair sentencing that would not include jail time given McGraw’s behavior and post-arrest statements.
Well, they will have to rule out dementia first. Otherwise he’s a grumpy old thug. If he was in his right mind, I feel sorry for the horses he trained.
I have no problem with the protestors being escorted out of the building if they were interfering with the event. You have a right to protest, but you don’t have a right to keep others from carrying on with the event they planned. But, no, you can’t punch someone you disagree with. Even the KKK had police protection to enforce their own First Amendment Rights to be complete idiots, ensuring protestors do not disrupt their events. Unless said protestors are canny and arrive BEFORE the event and disrupt it then with their fists. Which is also, regrettably, wrong.
This is just bravado talking. And the shove was emotional. Getting rather petty awen’t we.?
Btw all the protestors/rioters are being called Sanders supporters.
http://www.infowars.com/soros-funded-moveon-org-takes-credit-for-violence-in-chicago/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Soros Funded MoveOn.org Takes Credit for Violence in Chicago
Now look who Soros is funding for President.
Hillary.
Get it yet?
Trump supporters are angry Americans giving the middle finger of their right hand to politics as usual. So are Bernie supporters.w/ their left hand, flipping off the status quo.
@Dave137
Africans are the most violent people on earth. Nobody can seriously dispute that. They don’t like what you say? You get hit. Child acts up? Time for a “beat down.” Resent white people? Play the “knock-out game.” A “white-hispanic” following you? Bash his head into the concrete. So some old white geezer finally punches some big-mouthed, disruptive, ghetto-named punk, and OMG! He’s crying to his mama, to CNN, to JT, and any other sad sack that will listen. I’m sure the FBI has 150 agents on the way to make sure his rights weren’t violated by Gramps. Of course if the 26 year-old African had knocked-out the elderly man, it wouldn’t be even be newsworthy.
Once again, after the melee in Chicago yesterday, I am told by some reporters that the “peaceful” protesters inside the building had a first amendment right to assemble and speak. Where in our constitution is the right of “peacefully assemble” mentioned? I can only find “peaceably assemble”. When my wife once asked me what that means I answered “Imagine that Benedict Arnold and some friends were going to assemble at his house. There are no arms in that house and every person arrives peacefully without arms. However they meet to plan the violent overthrow of the Washington government. Hence their assembling was not peaceable”. Likewise a person who goes to a political rally inside a building with the intent to disturb that rally is not peaceable.
What a load PhillyT.
The sins of 60 years ago deserve like payback? Screw you.
People are sick and tired of hearing how evil whitey christian males are.
We are sick of the DELIBERATE attempts to MAKE us a minority for the sole purpose of oppression.
You are an idiot if you think for once second that minorities are not treated with anything but ‘favored status’ in todays world.
I am sick and tired of IGNORANT race apologists and white guilt from freakin DECADES AGO. Grow the hell up.
Amazing how many people here are defending the man who committed this assault. Or maybe it’s not that surprising because so many people who support this kind of violence just twist things to meet their personal and political agendas. If the roles had been reversed they would be shocked at how poorly black people behave in public or be posting knockout game videos.
I hope the old fart does time.
Stubby-fingered Donald incited this violence, and has done it multiple times. But he ran away from Chicago even though the police told him they thought it was perfectly safe. Chicken. How would he ever stand up to Putin if he can’t take a little heat in Chi-town?
A lot of older white people are terrified of becoming the minority and getting treated the way they treated minorities for decades.
more on the paid protest
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/11/black-lives-matter-activists-take-online-victory-lap-over-trump-rally-shutdown/
Lets be honest. Most Americans are sick and tired of this stuff right here
https://jonathanturley.org/2016/03/11/harvard-task-force-discusses-possible-ban-on-students-joining-all-male-clubs-or-associations/
and that is just a very small example. A very small one but one of many many MANY that are piking up and pissing off the majority population.
The majority of people have been pushed and pushed for 50 years now. The pushing should have stopped a good 30 years ago. But it didnt. Now we are pushing back and people are not used to seeing it.
Now before you condemn what I say, read this and understand WHY the man above feels the way he does
http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/03/11/horse-race-livewire-10/
He’s 78 and ain’t got nobody.
Got some money cause he just got paid.
All he wanted was someone to talk to.
He’s in an awful way.
We don’t need no punksters.
Pushin us around.
We might be old geezers.
But geezers sometimes pound.
So, listen punkie act like a monkey.
You’ll get your ass whipped at each go round.
Go get a preacher but not a teacher.
You’re in your kinfolks way.
A sad person with bouts of adrenaline. Like Trump himself.
Paul, throwing middle fingers around isn’t assault, so halt the false equivalency. The guy was getting thrown out for interrupting, which is the appropriate consequence.
Tin, it’s a suckerpunch. By definition it wasn’t a fair or actual fight.
Dave137 – using his middle finger is considered “fighting words” and he didn’t sucker punch him. He threw an elbow to the face.
If punching someone isn’t considered “speech” because it is harmful to others, then why is money considered “speech” when it’s harmful to others?
Don,
I’m not a proponent of violence, but I’d agree that Cheney’s face and demeanor were eminently punchable.
Don’t you think Trump supporters need a “safe space”??? Every other group can demand safe spaces.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
I concur with you, Prof. Turley. The problem is, though, is that Trump supporters (as well as a number of people posting on your blog) are from the Department of Just Us. Which could make getting a conviction by a jury difficult.
(Prof. Turley, would it have been ok for the senator who Cheney told to copulate himself to sucker punch Cheney? Never mind, I know the answer. Cheney is not one of those types of people who deserved to be slapped. )
The protester flips the crowd off and expects nothing to happen? That must have been a big surprise when he got clotheslined with that elbow. That 78 y/o has been in some fights before.
Are you SERIOUS? A 26 year-old black guy gets knocked on his ass by a 78 year-old white geezer and he’s showing his face in public? Hilarious!!
C’mon. He is 78 years old. Give the old codger a break. I am not even sure his subsequent statement is even actionable in and of itself.
Plus, you don’t have a right to protest INSIDE of a campaign rally. Do you go to a James Taylor concert and expect to get up and sing??? People didn’t come there to listen to you. Same with the rally. They didn’t come there to listen to the protester.
The “victim” should not have been punched, but it is not like he was blameless. He came there to stir up trouble, and he got some. Minor penalties for both.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter