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Trump rally protester files complaint against FWPD

(Photo Supplied/Allen County War Memorial Coliseum)

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): A man escorted out of President Trump’s rally in Fort Wayne last week has filed a formal complaint against the Fort Wayne Police Department for their role in removing him.

19-year-old Asiann Mitchell was removed from the rally at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum after he began shouting obscenities and made rude hand gestures to the crowd. He tells Fort Wayne’s NBC he felt police overstepped their bounds:

“They detained us and said we were trespassing, but it was an event open to the public. We weren’t arrested for trespassing. We were actually held and forced to give information.”

Fort Wayne Police say they collected Mitchell’s details, such as his social security number and place of employment, at the request of the Secret Service. He was then allowed to leave the building.

Councilman Glynn Hines complimented Mitchell on his “courage” during the Council meeting:

“Mr. Mitchell, your youthful exuberance to go to a Donald Trump rally,” Hines said, chuckling.  “I know you had to go online and get the tickets and go in there and protest. I just respect you for having the courage to do that.”

Hines also said he called Fort Wayne Police on Mitchell’s behalf.

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2 comments

Bonnie Parker November 14, 2018 at 11:32 am

Not very impressed with a councilman who is supporting a member of the public to go into a peaceful Republic Party Rally with the intention of protesting and causing a scene, possibly worse, up close to a Current United States President. It does not matter what this councilman’s political views are or how he feels about the President, there is a way to let this kid (because that’s how he acted) know he does have a right to free speech with also letting him know where the boundaries are and when he had crossed them, because he did. I was there and this kid has no reason for his complaint except possibly his complete and utter disrespect for our laws and law enforcement; having trouble being told he was wrong; and absolute ignorance. Ignorance by failing to think through and research his plan. And I say this because there was a designated area for protesters away from supporters who would be driving, standing, walking outside and eventually enjoying the rally inside. Being that this was an enormous and incredibly rare experience not only for the Memorial Coliseum staff & Security, but also for the Fort Wayne Police Department…We need to be giving them a HUGE round of applause for it going so smoothly! It seems like what is so widely criticized by so many is the exact behavior that they themselves demonstrate, Are we all all just going to keep our heads in the sand and keep widening the divide? Or when are we all going to stop trying to yell the loudest and remember that true compromises come when both sides feel that they haven’t fully gotten their way!

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Rocky November 15, 2018 at 10:00 am

It took “courage” to go to the rally “shouting obscenities and made rude hand gestures to the crowd”. Its very disgraceful that Councilman Glynn Hines would promote/respect that type of behavior. Oh wait, Councilman Hines is a Democrat, therefore, it makes sense Hines would promote that behavior, gaining his respect.

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