Fairhaven Pro-Trump Rally Marred by Senseless Act [OPINION]

A normally peaceful political rally was marred by a violent attack. Supporters of President Trump and our police have been rallying for weeks without problems.

I happened to be in the neighborhood because I live in the neighborhood where the latest attack on Trump supporters occurred. I had no intention of being at the rally, although I support the re-election of Donald Trump.

I was driving down the street and I saw the pre-planned "Back the Blue and Trump Too" rally. I pulled over at a friend's business because he was outside watching from a distance. There were 80 to 100 supporters of President Trump waving flags and holding up signs. They had a tent with t-shirts, bumper stickers, signs, and flags. They had patriotic music playing for the crowd gathered on Route 6 just east of the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge.

I then drove back home, but then decided to walk up to the rally when I noticed some Fairhaven Police officers arrive on the scene.

When I walked up to the festive crowd, I learned from a friend that a woman had been assaulted. She was said to have been hit by a bottle thrown from a vehicle. It is a reasonable assumption that she was attacked for her political views.

It was around this time that half a dozen or more New Bedford Police Department cruisers came over the bridge and linked up with a growing presence of Fairhaven Police Department officers. The police were met by cheers and robust flag-waving by the crowd.

I have since confirmed with two law enforcement sources that they were responding to the assault report. I know it went out over the police scanner band, too.

I was informed the police shut down Route 6 and some of the other roads in Fairhaven and New Bedford. It was obvious to me that the police were looking to prevent another drive-by attack on the rally while helping to preserve the rights of individuals at the rally and at a tiny counter-protest.

Sadly, if it turns out to be the case, this isn't the first time a supporter of law enforcement and President Trump has been attacked in our area. Fortunately, the lawless violent intimidators will not scare away the good Americans who support our police and our president.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.