Donald Trump’s campaign canceled a planned Chicago rally on Friday night after chaos and clashes between protesters and attendees overtook the event.
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Ohio Governor John Kasich, also battling Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, said the protests occurred because “the seeds of division that Donald Trump has been sowing this whole campaign finally bore fruit”.
Before the announcement the event wouldn’t take place, a handful of intense verbal clashes took place between Trump supporters and protesters as the crowd waited for his arrival.
The billionaire said he chose to call off the rally after consulting with police in Chicago, where tensions had been rising for hours in the build-up to the event at a sporting arena at the University of IL.
Inside the event, arguments and scuffles broke out between Trump supporters and opponents.
“Get a f– job”, one Trump supporter yelled. But the 18-year-old said she sensed anger from Mr Trump’s opponents.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson, the Chicago-based civil rights leader, said he hasn’t seen a presidential campaign similar to Trump’s since that of George Wallace, the former Alabama governor, though he said Wallace’s campaign was far from the center of political discourse. Our country is divided enough.
“I think he was kind of provoking things, to be honest with you”, said Dan Kozak, 23, from suburban Tinley Park. “To have (the Trump rally) at this school, for what this school stands for, is disrespectful”.
Veronica Kowalkowsky, an 18-year-old Trump supporter, said before the event started that she had no ill will toward the protesters but didn’t think they felt the same way. Chicago police said they made some arrests. “But it’s nice to see the camaraderie out her in the community, and that’s the change I’m looking for”, she tells CBS 2’s Jeremy Ross.
Several more protesters were detained inside the venue, and many were led out by police, video from @southards_3 showed.
Chicago police said they were coordinating with the Secret Service, university police and fire department officials on logistics.
Kevin Booker, chief of the University of IL at Chicago police, said in a statement that “the vast majority of attendees at today’s events exercised their Constitutional rights of free speech and free assembly peacefully”.
“A very sad scene, this is supposed to be American democracy in action, we’re seeing people just going at each other”, said CNN reporter Jim Acosta on the scene at the Trump rally in Chicago, Illinois, tonight.
“I don’t regret it it at all”.
“We shouldn’t let racism happen like this”, said Rivas, who was shouting “F*** Trump” as Trump supporters drove out of the garage.
“I don’t want the endorsement of a mayor who is shutting down school after school and firing teachers”, Sanders said, to cheers from the crowd.
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At UIC, Chancellor Michael Amiridis sent a message to students, faculty and staff last week, stating that Trump’s appearance on the 29,000-student campus doesn’t represent an endorsement.
