Trump has brushed off criticism that he’s encouraging violence among supports attending his rallies – though in February, Trump told supporters to “knock the crap out of” protesters.
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Thirty minutes before the rally was scheduled to begin, Trump called it off after conferring with police. “Do whatever you have to do”, Trump said, instructing the to “arrest them” while promising he will “file whatever charges you want”.
In a statement, Sanders blamed the violent protesters on Trump, saying his words provoked them.
“What caused the protests at Trump’s rally is a candidate that has promoted hatred and division against Latinos, Muslims, women, and people with disabilities, and his birther attacks against the legitimacy of President Obama”, he said.
The chaos ended several hours later, but not before members of the crowd threw bottles and other objects at officers, and some tried to take the stage and speak at the podium. The clash in Chicago followed a similar one between Trump supporters and protesters earlier Friday in St. Louis.
Chicago police said two officers were injured on Friday night. Critics have accused Trump of fuelling the toxic atmosphere.
Meanwhile Trump has said he is considering paying the legal fees for a supporter charged with assaulting a protester at a North Carolina rally. “Hey, Bernie, get your people in line, Bernie!”
Mr Trump later said that the Dayton event was the “largest in airport history”.
Trump said Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders sent people to disrupt his rallies, and he threatened to send some of his own supporters to Sanders events in the future. The man “attempted to breach the secure buffer and was removed rapidly and professionally”, a campaign spokeswoman said. And you have to understand, they want me to tell my people please be nice, be nice. He also noted some of the protesters were supporters of Sen.
The Republican presidential front-runner said in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” Sunday that he “should get credit, not be scorned” for his handling of the tension at his events. “Even [Trump’s] Republican colleagues make this point: His language, his intonation, when he talks about carrying people out in stretchers … this is a man who keeps implying violence, and then you end up getting what you seek”.
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But Trump also says he’s ready to wait them out. “I don’t think it’s directed at me or anything”, Trump said. But I certainly do not condone that at all.
