Illma Gore, the Australian-born artist whose interpretation of a naked Donald Trump — complete with a micropenis — went viral last month, says she was attacked and beaten by Trump supporters not far from her home in Los Angeles on Monday. In an Instagram post, Gore told her followers:
Today I was punched in the face by a man who got out of his car and yelled, “Trump 2016!” in Los Angeles, just days after I returned home from London just down the road from my house.
Today I was punched in the face by a man who got out of his car and yelled, “Trump 2016!” in Los Angeles, just days after I returned home from London just down the road from my house. Though I encourage passion, opinion and emotion, especially though art, I think violence is disgusting. To live in a place where Facebook has given my address to an anonymous third party makes me feel like I am homeless again. This type of violence makes creatives feel like we live in a world where our individual creative input isn’t safe. I am sad that this is the state of our America right now. I am sad that Trump, and many of his supporters, don’t find words enough to express their opinions – they need walls, waterboarding and punches. @realdonaldtrump Please stop glamorizing and perpetuating violence. Make America Decent Again! #makeamericadecentagain No, they have not been caught, and the men drove off laughing. A detailed police report has been filed.
A day later, Gore posted an update on the details of the assault along with a disturbing image of her facial swelling resulting from it:
“Art is the lie that allows us to see the truth.” Pablo Picasso. I am not deterred by this. Thanks for everyone’s support. If anyone saw anything on La Cienega on Friday, please let the local authorities know. Black Honda Civic with a group of people in the car.
A photo posted by Illma Gore (@illmagore) on
Trump Goons Have Threatened Her Before
This manifestation of violence is just another example of the lack of decency, respect and overall humanity that the Trump crowd has been displaying since the presumptive Republican presidential nominee announced his candidacy. And according to Gore, she was made aware many times that she would be a target of their cowardly actions. Promoting the piece, “Make America Great Again” to the Maddox Gallery in London, Gore said:
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the public reaction to the piece. While it is obviously a great shame that I cannot exhibit it in the USA due to censorship and also threats from Trump supporters to harm both myself and the artwork, I am so excited that it will finally be exhibited in a gallery space where interested parties can come and see it ‘in the flesh’. London has always had such an open-minded attitude towards art and has regularly displayed works of art that push boundaries and cause controversy, it is the perfect place to show ‘Make America Great Again’.”
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The image, banned on many social media platforms after it was viewed over 50 million times, made Gore the latest target of faux outrage from the Trump crowd following the lead of Mexican-Americans to women who choose to seek abortions. Now these brave, strong, tough guys are displaying their bravado by assaulting twenty-four-year-old women in the street. What’s even scarier is the likely support the assailants would have among the greater minority of Trump-loving Americans. Think of the people you know who back Trump’s candidacy. Do you think they’d object?
Is this the “America” we want to “Make Great Again”?
I didn’t think so.
