The scene was markedly different outside. The determination of protesters to “shut down” the rally, coupled with the increasingly frequent instances of violence committed by Trump supporters and the steadily ramping-up of violent rhetoric by Trump himself, who has wasted no opportunity to egg on his more aggressive supporters, created a charged atmosphere inside the venue that was waiting for something to set it off. It’s difficult to say exactly how the violence began, though given the circumstances, it was perhaps inevitable. Trump’s press officer announced to the crowd that the event was cancelled, and protesters cheered and chanted “Bernie!” and “We stopped Trump!”Ī Trump protester wearing a sombrero and the Mexican flag outside of the UIC pavilion. Trump supporters and protesters alike were escorted out by security, while brawls broke out across the pavilion floor. A police officer pinned a CBS reporter to the ground with his boot. Protesters spilled over the railing, with one activist jumping on stage and tearing up a speech left on the podium. People on both sides ripped signs from each other’s hands. The utter chaos that resulted has already been well-covered. Although exact figures are impossible to confirm, those who had made it inside estimated that anywhere between half and three-quarters of the attendees were protesters.
Of course, it soon became clear that at least part of the reason for the huge attendance was the large number of anti-Trump protesters who had made it their mission to disrupt the event over what they saw as the GOP frontrunner’s racist and increasingly violent campaign. You’re not meant to be this close to a male non-family member.” Another young man wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap sidled up to the crowd with a grin on his face and said to the headscarf-clad women: “You guys are violating the Quran.
0 kommentar(er)
