Donald Trump postponed his Friday night rally in Chicago because of “growing safety concerns” created by thousands of protesters inside and outside of the University of IL arena hosting the event.
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Cheers went up among many protesters when the announcement came, but a chaotic scene soon emerged with protesters and Trump supporters scuffling on the arena floor.
Trump’s team told the media in an official statement that “for the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight’s rally will be postponed to another date”.
“Please go in peace”, it added.
Citing the incidents of violence at Trump rallies across the country, UIC students and faculty denounced the administration and Chancellor Michael Amiridis for allowing Trump to host his campaign event on the campus.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, second in delegates to Trump in the GOP race, said late Friday that the billionaire has created “an environment that encourages this sort of nasty discourse”.
But we do get angry when we see the stupidity with which our country is run and how it’s being destroyed.
Speaking after the events, Mr Trump denied using hate speech or playing any part in the divisions. “That is the frustration level that a lot of people in this country feel, and people express it in different ways”. “They don’t talk about what’s really happening in these forums and these rooms and these stadiums”, Trump said. “We need more equality and to move in that direction and away from war and torture”.
The day after the Atlanta rally, Trump said this after a protester was removed from an event in Las Vegas: “I loved the old days.
Earlier Friday at a news conference in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump applauded his supporters who have taken on protesters who he says have gotten physical at his rallies. “Overall I think we’ve been very mild with protesters”.
Hundreds of people have staked out spots near where Donald Trump’s plane will arrive for a rally at a hangar near Dayton, Ohio.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, student activists and longtime Chicago organizers are all planning to protest outside the university venue over issues that include what they called Trump’s disparaging comments, particularly about Muslims and Mexicans.
“We do things a little different in this campaign: We bring people TOGETHER”.
CNN reported that “Fistfights between Trump supporters and protesters erupted after Chicago rally canceled”. “I think we made the right decision (to cancel)… even though our freedom of speech was violated”.
“We have a very divided country, ” Trump said.
At one point, almost 20 officers who had been manning barricades suddenly bolted for an intersection across a street bridge over a freeway – where protesters shouted at and jostled with police already there. The attention intensified after a North Carolina man was arrested earlier this week after video footage showed him sucker punching an African American protester being led out of a rally Wednesday night.
A Trump staffer took to the stage to tell the audience the rally – where The Donald himself was expected to speak – was cancelled because the crowd became rowdy. Asked if he had any regrets about the charged rhetoric at his rallies, Trump was defiant. “I’ll Pay for it”.
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“I want to thank the men and women of the Chicago Police Department for their hard work tonight in unexpected circumstances, and their continued commitment to protecting people’s first amendment rights”.
