The communications director for the Republican National Committee blasted the political left Wednesday for not condemning violence carried out by protesters outside a Donald Trump rally in New Mexico the prior night.
"It’s one thing to protest," Sean Spicer told Fox Business. "I think all of us can agree that our First Amendment right is something that we all cherish, that everybody has an opportunity to get out there and express themselves, assemble."
"But when you’re seeing folks on the left destroy public property, assault police officers, that’s crossing the line," Spicer said. "And I think it’s interesting that the Left that champions this free speech hasn’t come out and condemned these acts of public violence, both against property and people of public service. It’s rather disgusting and discouraging what’s happening."
Trump was campaigning in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday night when a large group of demonstrators destroyed property and attacked police officers to protest the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. The protesters appeared to oppose Trump’s stance on immigration and threw rocks and bottles and shouted obscenities.
Spicer noted this year marks the first time that both the Republican and Democratic conventions this summer will each be designated as a "national security event," similar to other large-scale spectacles like the Super Bowl, to prevent chaos similar to what was seen at the Trump event. This designation means the Secret Service will be the lead point for security in coordination with state and local authorities to ensure the safety of the delegates, reporters, and guests.
"I think Cleveland is going to be an unbelievably safe venue because the Secret Service understands the task at hand is going to do a great job," Spicer said in reference to the GOP convention.
There were worries earlier this year that the Republican convention could break down into chaos if Trump did not receive the party’s nomination, with the real estate mogul warning that riots would occur in such a scenario. Now that Trump is the presumptive nominee, however, the main security threat is from leftist protesters causing a scene similar to what happened in New Mexico on Tuesday.
Democrats have become more concerned in recent weeks about their own convention’s security after the party has fallen into turmoil in the wake of intense protests carried out by supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.). Many Democrats fear Sanders supporters could upend the party convention in Philadelphia.
Sanders himself said this week that the convention could get "messy" as he tries to push for the Democratic Party to be more inclusive.
"Democracy is not always nice and quiet and gentle," Sanders told the Associated Press.