In this Thursday, March 10, 2016 photo provided by Ronnie Rouse, Rakeem Jones is shown in N.C. A white Donald Trump rally attendee was charged with assault Thursday after he was caught on video hitting a black man, Rakeem Jones who was being escorted by deputies from the venue, authorities said. A news release from the Cumberland County Sheriff鈥檚 Office said John Franklin McGraw, 78, of Linden, was charged with assault and disorderly conduct after the rally for the Republican presidential front-runner Wednesday in Fayetteville, N.C. (Ronnie Rouse via AP)
MIAMI鈥擜 78-year-old white man punched a black protester in the face at a Donald Trump rally and was charged with assault, media said Thursday, in chaotic scenes on the presidential campaign trail.
John McGraw 鈥� who later said that next time 鈥渨e might have to kill him鈥� 鈥� was also charged with battery and disorderly conduct after the event Wednesday night in North Carolina, the Cumberland County sheriff鈥檚 office told the local TV station WRAL.
The incident was condemned by Bernie Sanders, who is vying with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for the White House.
鈥淣o one in America should ever fear for their safety at a political rally. This ugly incident confirms that the politics of division has no place in our country. Mr. Trump should take responsibility for addressing his supporters鈥� violent actions,鈥� Sanders said.
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Multiple videos of the assault show McGraw abruptly punching the young black man in the face as he was walking up a stairway with other protesters being escorted out by police, amid cries of 鈥淯SA! USA!鈥�
McGraw was not arrested until Thursday morning, as video of the assault gained widespread attention. He was released after posting a $2,500 bond, CNN reported.
The Cumberland County sheriff鈥檚 office did not immediately return phone calls from AFP.
Rakeem Jones, the man who was punched, told The Washington Post that the sharp blow to the right side of his face caught him by surprise.
鈥淎fter I get it, before I could even gain my thoughts, I鈥檓 on the ground getting escorted out. Now I鈥檓 waking up this morning looking at the news and seeing me getting hit again,鈥� Jones said.
Jones, 26, said he went to the Trump rally as a 鈥渟ocial experiment.鈥�
A woman who was part of his group started to yell out against Trump when he began his speech, Jones said.
As he walked up the stairs, right before reaching McGraw鈥檚 row, Jones is seen in the video turning to his right, smiling as he raises his arms and says something to the crowd. McGraw then sucker-punched him.
McGraw defended his behavior in comments to the program Inside Edition during the Trump rally.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know who he is but we know he鈥檚 not acting like an American,鈥� McGraw said.
鈥淵es, he deserved it. The next time we see him, we might have to kill him.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 rallies tend to draw large crowds, and some have been interrupted by protesters critical of the Republican frontrunner鈥檚 policy positions on immigration and other sensitive issues.
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Critics say he is stirring hatred among angry American voters with his inflammatory comments against Muslims and Mexicans.
Trump usually asks his security people to eject protesters from his campaign events.