Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016.
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Police in riot gear hold back demonstrators against US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside the Hyatt hotel.
The crowd grew rapidly, blocking the road in both directions.
Protesters have disrupted Trump’s rallies across the country, including a highly publicized Chicago rally, when they had to cancel the event.
Some protesters lobbed eggs at officers, and news footage showed a few protesters being dragged away by police after Trump’s speech ended.
Trump remarked on his entrance when he began his speech just before 1 p.m., almost an hour late.
“That was not the easiest entrance I ever made”, Trump quipped when he started speaking to the convention delegates. “I felt like I was crossing the border”.
He then launched into a list of some of the accomplishments of his campaign, which he said included starting a national conversation about illegal immigration.
Trump is campaigning in California ahead of the state’s GOP primary, the largest contest for Republican candidates, with 172 delegates awarded.
Yet, in Costa Mesa, 17 people were arrested during what should probably be described as a riot outside the Thursday night Trump rally.
– Demand a radical transformation of American democracy where Black people have the social, economic, and, cultural and political power we need to thrive.
Conway, 51, sipped a Corona after Trump’s speech while waiting for a cab.
Mancias said a group supporter had paid for a hotel room for the group, and hinted there could be others inside.
At one point, several dozen protesters broke through barricades and attempted to storm the hotel where the California Republican Convention was taking place but police, some wielding batons, were able to push them back. One man jumped on a police vehicle, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented in and other protests sprayed graffiti on a police auto and the venue’s marquee. Some protesters badgered Trump fans as they walked to their cars in the parking lot.
Earlier in the day, some had engaged in more civil conversations.
After calling Kasich a disgusting eater and Cruz a child, he called for “unity in our party”.
Trump supporters surrounded one man who waved a Mexican flag and shouted “Build that wall!”
Navarro said he had a positive experience talking to the protesters. “I’m not going to fight them”. “I’m very conservative on trade”. “I do have to tell you, I love California”, he said.
Rabia responded that all the men in her family had served in the military too. “Who are you kicking out?” Despite those stated goals, Trump has continued to inflame the passions of his opponents by using heated language that has offended immigrants and minorities.
“The anti-Trump mobs you are seeing on TV are just the type of people we’re trying to save our country from”, Berry said.
He also mocked Cruz’s newly named potential running mate, Carly Fiorina, for her presidential bid – “I like Carly, but when she left, she had no votes” – and Gov. John Kasich of OH, whose fading campaign and penchant for eating on camera were subjects of ridicule.
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Burlingame Police Lt. Jay Keily said the department had brought in officers from throughout San Mateo County to assist with today’s event. They said they were protesting Trump’s lack of engagement on issues of gender equality and women’s rights. He said one person was arrested though he didn’t know the charges, and said there was one injury, though he did not provide further details.
