A group of African American students were reportedly escorted out from a Donald Trump rally on Sunday for what they claim was no apparent reason.
Trump appeared at Valdosta State University in Georgia on Monday to speak at a campaign event. Before it even began, law enforcement escorted out about 30 black students, according to the Des Moines Register. “The only reason we were given was that Mr. Trump did not want us there,” Brooke Gladney, one of the students who was asked to leave, told the publication.
Hope Hicks, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, told Fortune in an email, “There is no truth to this whatsoever. The campaign and the candidate had no knowledge of the incident prior to reading these false reports.” Whether or not it was in fact the candidate who ordered their removal, these reports are not false. There are various videos showing the incident quite clearly.
Trump appeared at another rally in Radford, Virginia earlier that day where Black Lives Matter protestors actually did interrupt and were subsequently removed from the venue. Trump reacted by asking, “Are you from Mexico?” and declaring, “All lives matter.”
However, the students at VSU insist that it was not their intention to interrupt. One student, Maya Rose, stressed a peaceful protest on social media, even encouraging people to “bring a book, some headphones, or just come vibe.”
“We didn’t plan to do anything,” 19 year old Tahjila Davis told the Des Moines Register. “They said, ‘This is Trump’s property; it’s a private event.’ But I paid my tuition to be here.” She added tearfully that this was the first time she’s experienced racism on VSU’s campus.
