HICKORY, N.C. — Supporters of President Donald Trump were assaulted when they rallied last week near Interstate 40 in Hickory, and it was caught on video.
Austin Clark, 27, is facing a simple assault charge after being accused of throwing something at the supporters.
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Clark told reporter Dave Faherty he was not trying to hit anyone who gathered on the Lenoir Rhyne overpass.
[Driver accused of shooting at Trump supporters along Fort Mill overpass]
Mark Harrison is a supporter of Trump, but Harrison said he never thought someone would throw something at him and others for trying while exercising their freedom of speech.
“We have no issue if somebody comes by and wants to curse us and give us the middle finger, which they do all the time,” Harrison said. “No issues with that. That’s your First Amendment right, but you throw something at us trying to injure us, that’s a little bit different story.”
Clark, who describes himself as a Sen. Bernie Sanders supporter, told Faherty by phone Wednesday that he threw trash from his car after eating.
“I apologize for what was perceived as an assault, but I was eating some food, and I was done with my sauce, and I was being a little bit careless and throwing it, but if I really wanted to be mean, I would have thrown something heavier,” Clark said.
Hickory- a man has been accused of throwing an item at President Trump supporters who gathered along Lenoir Rhyne Boulevard. The video of the incident and the citation the driver faces tonight on eyewitness news at 530. pic.twitter.com/rH1PqWJ1oH
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) October 7, 2020
Police in Caldwell County said recently that political signs have been stolen from the Democratic headquarters in Lenoir.
Harrison doesn’t agree with that either and believes supporters on both sides should be able to come out and show their support for their candidate.
“Let us support who we want to support,” Harrison said. “You support who you want to support. We’re all Americans in the end, and we should all get along.”
No one was struck by the object, but Harrison said the Trump supporters have had drinks thrown at them.
Clark faces a judge onMonday.
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