The Punch that Marked the Election Ends in a Hug

CBN
12-16-2016

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A white Donald Trump supporter and the black man he punched at a rally in March hugged each other and spoke of mending the racial divide in the nation during a court hearing earlier this week.

John Franklin McGraw, 79, told 26-year-old Rakeem Jones in a Cumberland courtroom there's a need for racial reconciliation in America. 

"We're caught up in a political mess today and you and me, we gotta heal our country," McGraw told Jones. 

The courtroom broke out into applause as the two men embraced. 

In March, McGraw and Jones became a part of the national conversation on race and politics after McGraw was caught on camera punching Jones in the face. 

It happened as Jones was being escorted out of a Trump rally in Fayetteville. 

McGraw was captured on video saying: "He deserved it ... the next time we see him, we might have to kill him. We don't know who he is. He might be with a terrorist organization."

McGraw was later arrested and pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charges of assault, battery, and disorderly conduct on Wednesday. 

He received a 30-day suspended sentence and 12 months of unsupervised probation, in addition to being ordered to pay $430 in fines and court fees. 

He apologized for his actions before shaking hands and hugging Jones. 

"You know what you did, and I know what I did. I'm not going to say you were wrong or I'm wrong," McGraw told Jones, according to WRAL.

Jones did not say anything to McGraw while in the courtroom but later told CBS that he was glad to see McGraw again face-to-face. 

"It just felt good being able to shake his hand … and face him," he said. 

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