>>3335212Conservative whites of low socioeconomic status aren't afraid to get in my face or scream at me while I'm conducting interviews nowadays. This is unprovoked, mind you. They see my media badge or credentials and target me.
I never had this problem during the Obama administration. Now don't get me wrong: These people were sometimes hard to handle when Obama was in office because they absolutely hated him for no really good reason, at least as far as I could discern. Under Trump, they've become very aggressive and borderline violent.
I've never felt like my life was in danger, though law enforcement has stepped in a few times to get them to leave me alone. They know I won't fight back, which emboldens them to be unruly. If you're ever in this situation, my advice is to just have an expressionless face, let them talk, say "OK," walk away and continue on with your business. Kindness sometimes works, too. "Heh, OK, man, I hear ya. Hey, but I'm on deadline, so I can't spend all day with you. Good talk, though." For some reason, most people are understanding if you say, "I'm on deadline," no matter how much they hate you.
If you have camera gear, keep your distance and make sure it's insured. When confronted about shooting, I'll often say, "Hey, you have a First Amendment right to free speech, and I have a First Amendment right that ensures freedom of the press. We're both exercising our freedoms right now, which is what this country's all about, right?"
