I’ve posted before on the propensity of Trump supporters to engage in violence and Trump’s propensity to play the role of the little, loud-mouthed sixth grader on the sidelines inciting other so fight (see here | here, for example). Having said that, as the primary season has continued it has become obvious that the protest movement that sprung up about Trump’s campaign is every bit as unhinged as Trump’s most rabid neo-nazi supporters.

The leading edge of this effect took place in early March when scuffles between Trump protesters and supporters forced the cancellation of a rally in Chicago. The situation has turned uglier, now riots requiring police intervention are nearly a part of the Trump campaign.

On April 28, a peaceful protest against Trump in Costa Mesa metastasized into a street riot that led to clashes between anti-Trump protesters and police.

Police in riot gear working to clear protesters at Trump rally after police cars were damaged @CBSLA @KCBSKCALDesk pic.twitter.com/GrQm5qDgQ5

— Chris Ercoli (@CERCOLICBS) April 29, 2016

May 25, Trump was in Anaheim, CA,

In Albuquerque, May 24, several police officers received injuries in this riot

Yesterday, in San Jose, CA, Trump supporters who, apparently, were simply trying to go to a Trump rally were attacked:

In San Jose, however, the violence had the imprimatur of the mayor of the city:

The mayor of San Jose, Democrat Sam Liccardo, reacted angrily to the events. Not that he was particularly upset at the violent mob that attacked innocent Americans, of course. No, his ire was directed at Mr. Trump. “At some point Donald Trump needs to take responsibility for the irresponsible behavior of his campaign,” the mayor said. Apparently it was downright “irresponsible” of Trump to even set foot in California’s third largest city.

It appears that the same crop of psychos who wore papier-mache puppets to protest “globalization” over a decade ago have found a new target for their energies. The protests directed at Trump are actually a mask used to disguise their true purpose which is to create havoc.

This type of behavior is nuts. Protesting Trump is fine, even laudable, but rioting pretty much makes the case Trump is trying to make in a way that Trump, himself, never can. The rioting associated with the anti-Trump protests have gone beyond scuffles with pro-Trump hooligans. Now the targets are police, property, and innocent bystanders. The same sort of reaction is possible that happened during the Vietnam War when campus protests directed at the draft moved to domestic terrorism and Kerry-esque collaboration with the North Vietnamese created the “hard hat riot” of May 8, 1970

By making street violence synonymous with anti-Trump demonstrations, the demonstrators are perversely making themselves the issue and Trump a palatable alternative to their excess. It is almost as if Trump had hired them to make his point.

It is only a matter of time until someone gets seriously injured or killed in one of these performances… and you can bet that person will not be involved in the riot. All is needed is one person trying to attend a Trump rally getting killed and we will be on the edge of Horst Wessel territory.