Rally held for elderly Fall River man assaulted while holding Trump sign
"Nobody should be in fear to be beaten up simply for holding a sign. God bless you, Charlie."
An 82-year-old Fall River man who was assaulted last week while holding a President Trump campaign sign got the backing of dozens Saturday, who rallied in an outpouring of support for the military veteran.
Charlie Chase was attacked June 2 at a rotary off of North Main Street when 27-year-old Aidan Courtright, of Fall River, allegedly stopped his vehicle and pushed Chase to the ground, assaulted him, and tore up the sign, The Herald News reports.
Courtright is facing charges of assault and battery on a person over 60 years old; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60 years old; vandalizing property; and committing a civil rights violation with injury.
A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf during an arraignment the following day.
Chase’s supporters who turned out Saturday told the Herald News they wanted to denounce the assault. Many held Trump signs of their own.
“He’s just the sweetest, kindest man, and for him to stand out here and stand up for President Trump with a sign, and to be attacked maliciously when he’s out here by himself or [with] one or two friends, just galled me,” said Patricia Saint Aubin, a Trump delegate who told the newspaper she met Chase a decade ago through his involvement with the Massachusetts Republican Party.
“The audacity to hit a veteran, an Air Force veteran, a career veteran that spent his life fighting for us so that we can stand out here and do these kind of things, to maliciously come along and hurt my good friend,” she said.
Support for Charlie Chase pic.twitter.com/kX4D6yq2wm
— Jo Goode (@jgoodeHN) June 6, 2020
According to the newspaper, the rally was organized by conservative talk show host Dianna Ploss, whose show is based out of Nashua, New Hampshire.
Local dentist and former Republican state representative candidate Dr. David Steinhof told the Herald News he gathered friends together to go out and support Chase after hearing about the incident.
“We’re here for Charlie Chase who needs to know we will be with him and nobody should fear holding a sign for whom ever it is,” he told the newspaper. “Nobody should be in fear to be beaten up simply for holding a sign. God bless you, Charlie.”
But those who stood out at the site where Chase was assaulted Saturday are hardly the first to come to his side.
In a tweet Friday, Donald Trump, Jr., the president’s son, spoke out condemning the incident and seeking to connect with Chase.
“Awful,” he wrote. “An 82 year old wearing a Trump hat was attacked by a leftwing nut job in Massachusetts. All political violence is wrong, but what kind of person commits violence against an elderly man?”
Awful.
An 82 year old wearing a Trump hat was attacked by a leftwing nut job in Massachusetts. All political violence is wrong, but what kind of person commits violence against an elderly man?
If anyone has contact info for the victim please send my way.https://t.co/NuOjnxbxhW
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 5, 2020
Trump Jr. ultimately called into “The Howie Carr Show” to personally thank Chase for his support of the campaign.
“Just wanted to say I saw your story, I’m sorry you had to go through that and we really appreciate the support,” he told Chase. “That shouldn’t be going on in America and I just wanted to say thank you for that support, thank you for your steadfast loyalty for your service to our country. It means the world to us.”
The president’s son said he would send Chase campaign hats, flags, and other gear as tokens of appreciation. He added that he’d like to meet face-to-face and perhaps get Chase to one of the president’s rallies.
“I have to thank you guys,” an emotional Chase told him. “You don’t know how much you mean to us.”
According to the Herald News, Courtright was held in custody until a dangerousness hearing, where a request to hold him without bail made by the Bristol County district attorney was denied by a judge.
Courtright was released under conditions that he stay away from Chase and witnesses of the alleged assault and that he not participate in online political activity, the newspaper reports. Courtright has no previous criminal record.
Chase, speaking to the junior Trump on Carr’s show, vowed the incident will not scare or deter him from holding his signs again.
“I’m going to be doing this continuously right up until the election,” he said.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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