Donald Trump Should Condemn Boston Immigrant Attack, Says ADL
BOSTON (CBS/AP) - The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) wants Donald Trump to condemn the actions of a South Boston man charged with attacking a homeless Mexican man.
Scott Leader, 38, and his 30-year-old brother Steve were arrested after police say they beat and urinated on the man at JFK T station on Columbia Road Tuesday night.
According to the State Police arrest report, Scott Leader "stated Donald Trump was right, all these illegals need to be deported."
Trump was asked about the alleged comment by a reporter at an event in New Hampshire Wednesday.
"I haven't heard about that. I think it would be a shame," Trump said. "But I haven't heard about that. I will say the people that are following are very passionate."
That response prompted Robert Trestan, the ADL New England Regional Director, to call on Trump to send a stronger message.
"He should join others in condemning the attack," Trestan told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Friday.
"The perpetrators seem to be proud of what they did here and there's nothing to be proud of and all of us need to be universal in the message about that."
Trestan said Trump's initial reaction to Leader's alleged comment was troubling.
"There is a growing bias and hostility towards immigrants and when we say things publicly, when elected officials, when leaders say things, people listen and some of those people act out on it," he told WBZ.
Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, has inflamed Latinos by describing Mexican immigrants as "criminals" and "rapists" and saying he would build a wall between the United States and Mexico to crack down on illegal immigration.
He recently said he would deport the millions of people already in the United States illegally, sort them into groups of "good ones" and "bad ones" and then allow those deemed good to re-enter the country.
Mexican officials said they would follow the Boston investigation "very closely" to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
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WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports