Chaos breaks out at Trump rally in Chicago

Masses of protesters clashed with Donald Trump supporters at a rally for the Republican presidential front-runner Friday, prompting the Trump campaign to cancel the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion event due to security concerns.

Police descended on the scene after a series of shoving matches broke out between Trump supporters and a group of protesters inside the arena, and further chaos erupted in the streets outside.

Trump said he made the decision to cancel the event after consulting with authorities, who warned of the danger of further violence.

"They said it would be better not to do it," Trump told CNN after the cancellation. "People could get hurt. I didn't want people to get hurt."

The candidate's shift in tone was a change from an earlier rally Friday in St. Louis, when Trump continued to taunt those who interrupt his events while promising that police and security would be "gentle" as they removed them.

"They're allowed to get up and interrupt us horribly and we have to be very, very gentle," Trump said in response to one of nearly a dozen interruptions as he spoke in St. Louis at the regal Peabody Opera House. "They can swing and hit people, but if we hit them back it's a terrible, terrible thing, right?"

In recent weeks, Trump has been accused of urging his crowd to harm protestors, and there have been increasing reports of violence against protestors and the press at his events--in one case, when his campaign manager manhandled a Breitbart News Network reporter.

More controversy emerged over a video showing an African-American protestor getting sucker punched by a Trump supporter.

Asked if his campaign rhetoric had encouraged such clashes, Trump said most of the problems at past rallies had been instigated by protesters, not his supporters.

“We will have protestors stand up and be very, very abusive, unbelievably abusive, and in some cases swinging, punching and swinging,” he said. “Overall, I think we’ve been very mild with protestors.”

His rallies have attracted tens of thousands of supporters, he said. "I mean, it's a love fest in the rallies themselves," he said. "There's great love in those big stadiums."

At Friday's event, several thousand Trump supporters had been awaiting the candidate inside the arena. But one section appeared to be filled with youths protesting his appearance, a majority of them African American, Latino, Arab American and Asian American.

At one point, a woman protester shouted, "F--- Trump" while holding a "No Hate" sign. People in the upper balcony threw debris at her.

The cancellation was announced more than 30 minutes after the event was scheduled to begin, when a voice came over the sound system informing the thousands in attendance that the event had been postponed due to "security concerns."

Hundreds of anti-Trump demonstrators erupted in celebration while the GOP front-runner's supporters stood in stunned silence. Many of them quietly held signs that read "The silent majority is for Trump" while protesters wildly chanted "we stopped Trump!" over and over.

Officials moved to empty the arena with an announcement of "please exit the building" over the public-address system. Thousands of Trump backers and protesters filed out, joining the thousands of protesters outside. There were some clashes and pushing, images captured by cable news networks.

Protesters chanted "Hey, hey. Ho, ho. Donald Trump has got to go."

A few Trump backers lashed back at demonstrators, shouting, "Build the wall!" a reference to Trump's pledge to build a wall on the Mexican border.

At one point, protesters briefly blocked the Eisenhower Expressway. Police dispersed them, but later protesters began blocking the expressway's westbound ramp.

Eventually, police managed to clear the four-story parking deck of protesters and drivers. On the street outside, hundreds of people still milled about. UIC police carrying plastic handcuffs were assisting Chicago police.

Some Trump backers were forced to move through a gauntlet of protesters, many of whom were shouting at them, calling them "bigots" and singing "Sha-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey, hey, goodbye."

One group of supporters and demonstrators nearly exchanged blows. Amid the chaotic scene, some demonstrators peddled T-shirts reading "Donald (Expletive) Trump." One little girl sported an anti-Trump sign with a pun: "We shall overcomb."

As the crowds dispersed, hundreds of protesters stood in the median along Harrison Street, some chanting "Muslim lives matter!"

They held up signs, including a few that depicted Trump as if he was dressed in the white sheets of the Ku Klux Klan. Those same signs had scrawled on them "Mein Trumpf" — a play on comparisons some have made to Adolf Hitler.

More than a dozen Chicago police officers on bicycles tried to block the crowd from occupying Harrison Street.

A large cluster of protesters also moved toward a nearby parking deck, blocking numerous cars from leaving at the Harrison exit.

Protesters started booing and jeering motorists as they started to exit the parking garage. "Go back to the suburbs!" one protester shouted.

More than a dozen police officers on horseback wearing leather coats and sky-blue helmets formed a line to prevent some of the protesters from disrupting the traffic along Harrison as the cars drove away.

A helicopter buzzed overhead.

"Where's Donald Trump?" one protester shouted angrily.

The protest against Trump represented numerous disparate Chicago groups in a city where protesting has a long — and recent — tradition.

Almost since Trump announced the Chicago rally a week ago, groups were mobilizing.

On Monday, a group of Latino elected officials led by Democratic U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, of Chicago, called on people to show up and express opposition to Trump's candidacy.

In addition, UIC faculty and staff had signed off on a letter asking administrators to cancel the rally because it could turn violent. And more than 40,000 signatures were collected on a petition started by a student leader asking how security would be handled and who would pay for it.

Gutierrez said earlier this week that organizing had just started but he hoped that representatives from Chicago's Muslim communities, the LGBTQ communities, those who support women's rights and other minorities also would attend the outdoor protest.

 

Among the thousands who had gathered to see Trump, some said they appreciated the candidate's forthright statements.

"He's not politically correct," said Diane Szafranski, a 48-year-old homemaker who brought her 10-year-old daughter to see Trump. "He's not taking any crap from anybody, which I love."

"He's self-funding," Szafranski added. "He's not relying on the lobbyists. He's not going to owe anybody."

One Trump backer, Jeff Black, handed out anti-Hillary Clinton buttons reading "Hillary for prison."

But Aimee Bass, a 49-year-old music teacher, said she came out to voice her opposition to Trump.

He had every right to be a businessman, she said, but "he's so unqualified to run for president."

Trump's visit before Tuesday's presidential primary in Illinois raised concerns on campus, with dozens of UIC faculty and staff signing a petition begun by a student leader asking how security would be handled and who would pay for it. More than 40,000 people signed it.

A 24-hour vigil leading up to Trump's campaign stop and organized by Latino community leaders began late Thursday.

Chicagoan and paramedic Deirdre Fennessy held up a sign with a swastika that replaced the "U" in the Republican presidential front-runner's name.

"Chicagoans don't want him here," Fennessy said.

"We're not paying attention to them," said a Trump supporter from Villa Park who gave his name as "Tony" and said he immigrated from Italy 40 years ago. He praised the hotel magnate's "management skills.

Most people who turned out for Trump were white. Farice Campbell, a 21-year-old African-American man from Chicago, said he came out of curiosity, and to see Trump supporters up close.

"We came to see in real life how this all plays out, and the reasons to support Trump," Campbell said.

With him was 18-year-old Portia Torrens, of Oswego, who is also black.

"This is a huge part of history," she said. "It's good to be a part of it."