TV reporter attacked by Trump supporter outside Minnesota rally
A reporter for a local TV news station was attacked by a supporter of Donald Trump outside the president's rally in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Mr Trump flew to Duluth on Wednesday for his first post-debate campaign rally, in which the president told a protester to "go home to mum" and the crowd chanted "lock her up" to congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
On assignment outside the event, WCCO-TV journalist Dymanh Chhoun began filming a man confronting a group of Joe Biden supporters, according to the station's report.
"You guys want to be peaceful? Be peaceful! You want to be violent? Come to me and I'll..." the man can be heard saying in video of the clash.
I am outraged by this violent attack on my @wcco colleague,friend &photojournalist @Dymanh in Duluth- I am so thankful he was not hurt. The venom must stop, our photojournalists are our truest storytellers &this video tells an important,sad & terrifying one. Thx Dymanh pic.twitter.com/9caREau3HS
— esme murphy (@esmemurphy) October 1, 2020
He punches or knocks the camera phone out of the hand of Mr Chhoun, who says he had identified himself as media and was recording in a public space.
WCCO assignment manager Guy Still, who sent Mr Dymanh to cover the Trump rally, said on Twitter that his newsroom's journalists have been unlawfully detained by police, pepper-sprayed, shot with non-lethal rounds, intimidated, assaulted, sworn at and had effigies mutilated in their driveways.
"He's not some yahoo operating without regard for his safety. He's got a wife and young kids at home who mean the world to him," Mr Still said.
"I take personal exception when anyone puts my guy in danger."
2/6: He is my colleague and my friend. But, more that, he is one of the many @wccophotogs and reporters who put their health and safety at risk every day in order to tell stories which are important to the community.
But, his story is exceptional… pic.twitter.com/f3nkAre2wi— Guy Still (@mplstvguy) October 1, 2020
The attack was condemned by both Democrats and Republicans, with the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chairman Ken Martin saying political violence is never acceptable.
"It is essential that political campaigns remain peaceful and that everyone treats members of the media with the respect they deserve," Mr Martin said, according to the Associated Press.
Republican US Senate candidate Jason Lewis, who has been endorsed by Mr Trump, tweeted that the attack was "very upsetting", and that police should investigate.
"Freedom of the press is protected by the constitution, and that needs to be understood and respected," he said.
Police confirmed on Thursday that they were attempting to identify the man seen in the video.
