A veteran who shoved a Black Lives Matter protester at a Donald Trump rally in Louisville, Kentucky, earlier this month says he regrets his role in the brawl and insists that he is not a racist.
Al Bamberger, was seen in a viral video from the rally shoving Black Lives Matter protester and University of Louisville student Shiya Nwanguma at the GOP front-runner’s March 1 rally.
Mr. Bamberger, who is seen wearing his Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 4 shirt and hat appeared to be participating in the brawl along with a group of white supremacists and others at the rally.
But in a letter to the president of the KWVA, Mr. Bramberger wrote that the video of the altercation doesn’t tell the whole story.
He said the rally was peaceful and orderly until Mr. Trump came on stage. Then protesters became vocal and started to push through the crowd toward the stage. At that point, Mr. Bamberger says he was was knocked to the ground and lost his jacket, Indiana radio station WSCH-FM reported.
“Trump kept saying ’get them out, get them out’ and people in the crowd began pushing and shoving the protestors,” Mr. Bamberger wrote. “Unfortunately a lot of this behavior was happening right next to where I was standing and having been pushed to the floor myself, my emotions got the best of me, and I was caught up in the frenzy. I physically pushed a young woman down the aisle toward the exit, an action I sincerely regret.”
Mr. Bamberger insisted in his letter that he was not a racist and was not associated with any white supremacist group.
“I need everyone to know that I am not a racist as implied by many internet postings. I am not associated with any type of racist organizations and did not push the young lady because she was black. I went to the rally to have a good time, support the veterans, and see Donald Trump. Unlike the people that surrounded me at the event, whose main purpose was to cause chaos and create videos, I went there with no intention of participating in a confrontation and I deeply regret my involvement,” Mr. Bamberger wrote.
“I have embarrassed myself, my family, and Veterans. This was a very unfortunate incident and it is my sincere hope that I can be forgiven for my actions,” he added.
Police are continuing to investigate the assaults that took place during the rally, but no charges have been filed.
Joseph Pryor, another man who was shown screaming at Ms. Nwanguma in the video was discharged from the Marine Corps Delayed Entry program after he bragged about his involvement in the brawl online.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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