Joaquin Castro accused of inciting violence by publishing names of biggest San Antonio Trump donors

Joaquin Castro, a Democratic congressman from Texas, has come under fire this week for posting a list of 44 of his constituents that maxed out on their contributions to Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.

Castro, who is the chairman of his twin brother Julian’s 2020 presidential campaign, tweeted out a list of the names and occupations of those in the 20th congressional district of Texas that appear to have donated the maximum amount allowed by campaign finance laws.

‘Sad to see so many San Antonians as 2019 maximum donors to Donald Trump,’ Castro wrote t his campaign followers Tuesday afternoon. ‘Their contributions are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as ‘invaders.’

In June, Trump tweeted that the U.S. is being ‘invaded by so many people (illegals).’

Catro’s congressional reelection campaign Twitter account posted the graphic titled ‘Who’s Funding Trump?’ on Monday, just a day after two mass shootings rocked the nation over the weekend. Several of the individuals on the list are recorded as retired.

Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro posted a list of of all his constituents who maxed out on donations to Donald Trump’s reelection campaign

On his congressional campaign Twitter, he posted he was sad to see those he represents in San Antonio donating to the president after he called illegal immigrants 'invaders.' He also blasted some of the places of work of some of those listed

On his congressional campaign Twitter, he posted he was sad to see those he represents in San Antonio donating to the president after he called illegal immigrants ‘invaders.’ He also blasted some of the places of work of some of those listed

Along with the tweet, Castro posted a picture with a list of 44 people who maxed out on donations and also listed their occupations

Along with the tweet, Castro posted a picture with a list of 44 people who maxed out on donations and also listed their occupations 

In June, Trump tweeted that the U.S. is being 'invaded by so many people (illegals)', which Democrats have used to say the president believes migrants and immigrants are 'invaders'

In June, Trump tweeted that the U.S. is being ‘invaded by so many people (illegals)’, which Democrats have used to say the president believes migrants and immigrants are ‘invaders’

Many chastised the move as putting individuals on blast for their political affiliation after several Democrats blamed Trump’s rhetoric for helping to motivate the shooters in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.

The shooter in El Paso posted an online manifesto less than a half-hour before opening fire at a Walmart – killing 22 and injuring two dozen others. The manifesto shared some racist and anti-immigration sentiments, which Democrats claimed mirrored Trump’s rhetoric on some levels.

The president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., told Fox & Friends Wednesday morning that by publishing the list Castro was mimicking the shooter in Dayton, Ohio.

Former classmates of the 24-year-old shooter told the Associated Press that Connor Betts, who was fatally shot by police less than a minute after he opened fire and killed nine on a street in Dayton, had a ‘hit list’ of people he wanted to kill in high school.

A female classmate said, ‘There was a kill list and a rape list, and my name was on the rape list.’

The list was posted Monday, following two mass shootings over the weekend that resulted in 31 deaths. Many claim this type of post from Castro is helping contribute to the political divide that leads to violence like displayed Saturday and Sunday

The list was posted Monday, following two mass shootings over the weekend that resulted in 31 deaths. Many claim this type of post from Castro is helping contribute to the political divide that leads to violence like displayed Saturday and Sunday

The first mass shooting occurred Saturday at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas

 The first mass shooting occurred Saturday at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas

The second happened just hours later on a popular street with restaurants and bars in Dayton, Ohio

The second happened just hours later on a popular street with restaurants and bars in Dayton, Ohio

The Dayton shooter, 24-year-old Connor Betts, was said to have had a 'hit list' in high school of people he wanted to kill

The Dayton shooter, 24-year-old Connor Betts, was said to have had a ‘hit list’ in high school of people he wanted to kill

Donald Trump Jr. said Castro's list was like the Dayton shooter's 'hit list,' claiming he was targeting people with a different political view. 'It's pretty scary,' Trump Jr. said

Donald Trump Jr. said Castro’s list was like the Dayton shooter’s ‘hit list,’ claiming he was targeting people with a different political view. ‘It’s pretty scary,’ Trump Jr. said

When told Castro wasn't giving a call to action against these people, Don Jr. said, 'Perhapes not to reasonable people, but when the fringe crazies on both sides... see that, man, now you're going after ordinary citizens'

When told Castro wasn’t giving a call to action against these people, Don Jr. said, ‘Perhapes not to reasonable people, but when the fringe crazies on both sides… see that, man, now you’re going after ordinary citizens’

They said Betts was suspended during his junior year of high school when the ‘hit list’ was found scrawled on the bathroom wall, and that when the list came out in 2012, about a third of the students at Bellbrook High School skipped school out of fear of being targeted.

Trump Jr., compared Castro’s list to the shooter’s ‘hit list.’

When Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt pointed out that Castro was not calling anyone to be violent against those on the list, Trump Jr. insisted it’s ‘pretty scary.’

‘Perhaps [it’s not a call to action] to reasonable people, but when the fringe crazies on both sides – and we saw that in the last week, right? We had fringe crazies on all sides. They see that, man, now you’re going after ordinary citizens. People who are just taking part in a political process,’ he told the morning show hosts. 

Many other Republican colleagues criticized the move, as well. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy incited former first lady Michelle Obama’s mantra, ‘When they go low, we go high.’

‘Targeting and harassing Americans because of their political beliefs is shameful and dangerous. What happened to ‘when they go low, we go high?’ McCarthy tweeted. ‘Or does that no longer matter when your brother is polling at 1%? Americans deserve better.’

Castro, seen here campaigning for his twin brother Julian who is running for president, defended posting the list

Castro, seen here campaigning for his twin brother Julian who is running for president, defended posting the list

On his congressional Twitter account – separate from the campaign account that posted the list – Castro said that by making the post he was not calling for anyone to take action against the individuals

On his congressional Twitter account – separate from the campaign account that posted the list – Castro said that by making the post he was not calling for anyone to take action against the individuals

Steve Scalise, the House minority whip, said he knows personally how dangerous such moves could be.

‘People should not be personally targeted for their political views. Period,’ he tweeted. ‘This isn’t a game. It’s dangerous, and lives are at stake.’

‘I know this firsthand,’ he added.

Scalise was wounded two years ago when a gunman, who was specifically targeting Republicans, opened fire on GOP lawmakers practicing for a charity baseball game.

Castro defended posting the list.

‘No one was targeted or harassed in my post. You know that. All that info is routinely published,’ Castro defended on his congressional Twitter account, which is separate from his campaign account that originally published the list.

‘You’re trying to distract from the racism that has overtaken the GOP and the fact that President Trump spends donor money on thousands of ads about Hispanics ‘invading’ America,’ he continued in the Tuesday evening post.

‘Donald Trump has put a target on the back of millions,’ he said of the illegal immigrants being referred to as ‘invaders.’ ‘And you’re too cowardly or agreeable to say anything about it. How about I stop mentioning Trump’s public campaign donors and he stops using their money for ads that fuel hate?’

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