Man charged with assault for tearing down anti-Trump signs
A man accused of tearing down placards from a Des Moines, Iowa bridge that read “Trump = Hitler" now faces charges of assault and fifth‑degree criminal mischief.
The Des Moines Register reported Thursday that the man was seen on video during rush‑hour traffic earlier this month. According to the report, it shows the individual leaving the roadway and stepping onto the pedestrian walkway of an overpass above Interstate 235.
He can be seen removing the placards — each bearing a single letter to spell “TRUMP = HITLER” — which were secured to the railing using bungee cords.
Authorities have filed misdemeanor charges against 68‑year‑old Bradley Jay Nall in connection with the incident.
Nall purportedly created a GoFundMe page tied to the incident, calling for “SUPPORT FOR PATRIOT STANDING UP FOR TRUMP,” and as of Wednesday, it had collected $240 from seven donors.
The report further noted that a protest organizer, Heather Ryan, posted a video of the confrontation on social media, and it has since amassed over half a million views.
Ryan told the Des Moines Register that the demonstration had been peaceful until the incident.
“We only got six people flipping us the bird. That’s pretty darn good,” she remarked.
But she said things took a turn for the worse when Nall neared the protesters.
“He was yelling, 'What are you gonna do? What you gonna do? Who’s gonna stop me, huh? Who’s gonna stop me?'” she recounted. “It was terrifying. … It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”
The video shows both the protesters and the man, identified as Nall, shouting and exchanging profanity.
Ryan credits social media and a license‑plate inquiry with helping to identify the man. She and another protester then contacted law enforcement to press charges.
In a video posted on August 13, Ryan is seen leaving a Des Moines police station, holding a case card, and stating, “simple assault charges filed.”
In the same video, she added, “I did not know until today that if somebody comes up on you aggressive and ready to punch you out, that’s assault.”
Watch the video below or at this link.