Are Paid Provocateurs Disrupting Trump Rallies?

by Stephen Lendman

Disrupting popular movements in America (and elsewhere) using agent provocateurs is longstanding practice.

The FBI notoriously targets groups out of step with accepted establishment practices - infiltrating, disrupting, sabotaging and destroying their activism for ethnic justice, racial emancipation, as well as economic, social and political equality across gender and color lines.

Occupy Wall Street protests were systematically disrupted nationwide, undermining the campaign altogether. Efforts to re-jump-start it never gained traction.

Former Louisiana Governor Huey Long outspokenly proposed wealth distribution to curb poverty and homelessness. His advocacy and planned 1936 presidential run cost him his life.

A month after announcing his candidacy, he was fatally shot at the Louisiana State Capitol. Jack Kennedy's transformation from warrior to peacemaker got him assassinated.

Donald Trump is no Kennedy or Huey Long. He's a boastful, demagogic, super-rich, racist, predatory capitalist con man, coming off in campaign speeches as anti-establishment, a figure party bosses aren't sure they can control.

All sorts of dirty tricks are being used to undermine his run for the White House - perhaps including paid provocateurs to disrupt his political rallies.

Late last year, protesters disrupted a Virginia rally - clashing with supporters, chanting "Dump Trump. Campaign events in Miami, Dallas, Massachusetts, Ohio, Alabama and elsewhere were turbulent.

Chicago was the latest venue for disruption. A planned Friday event was cancelled shortly before Trump was scheduled to speak at the University of Illinois Chicago Pavilion.

Thousands of supporters awaited his arrival inside. Crowds outside protested his appearance. Disruption caused the rally to be cancelled, an announcement, saying:

"Mr. Trump just arrived in Chicago and after meeting with law enforcement has determined that for the safety of all the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight's rally will be postponed until another date. Thank you very much for you attendance and please go in peace."

Protesters cheered. Supporters chanted "We want Trump!" Scuffles were reported inside and outside the pavilion.

Were paid provocateurs involved? Interviewed on Friday, Trump said he doesn't incite or condone violence.

Illinois is one of five states holding key March 15 primaries. Their results could be decisive in deciding who'll be the Republican presidential nominee.

Party bosses are going all out for anyone but Trump - even strongly supporting native born Canadian/naturalized US citizen Ted Cruz's illegitimate candidacy.

Despite everything done so far to undermine him, Trump looks unstoppable. Supporters thinking he'll change things for the better if elected in November are hopelessly out of touch with reality.

He's like all the rest - in his case, old wine in new bottles, supporting the longstanding system too corrupted to fix.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.