Raucous protesters and supporters of Donald Trump took to the streets in California leading to some 20 arrests as the Republican presidential contender brought his campaign to conservative Orange County after sweeping the Northeast GOP primaries. “I think so, to be honest with you, because they’re going to be voting for me (not the party)”.
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Police officers take a man into custody who was protesting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel during the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016.
Protests erupted in California for the second day in a row on Friday against USA presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is moving closer to winning the Republican nomination after a string of victories this week.
Bill Gilbert, a retired San Francisco police lieutenant, said he paid $100 to hear more of Trump’s “common-sense” ideas for improving the country. “Trump is calling for the deportation of 12 million people, which would usher in a hyper-police state in this country”.
The US Secret Service led Mr Trump in through a rear entrance to the hotel.
Jorge-Mario Cabrera, spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, denounced Mr Trump’s rhetoric and said he hoped the real estate magnate would be defeated at the polls.
Seventeen people were arrested, said Costa Mesa police Sgt. Mike Manson.
Dozens of cars – including those of Trump supporters trying to leave – were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies.
“It probably will be the state that gets Trump either very, very near or over the top” Henry Brady, the dean of Goldman School of Public Policy, said.
“That was not the easiest entrance I ever made”, Trump quipped when he started speaking to the convention delegates. “It felt like I was crossing the border”.
Thursday night, protesters at an event in South California became violent, smashing out the windows and seeking to overturn a police auto.
But protest organizer Cat Brooks told Bay City News: “We’re here because Trump has used the largest platform in the world to issue a message of hate and invite violence against marginalized communities”. Another supporter was punched and spat on by demonstrators who threw his phone to the ground.
“I went over a fence, I got mud all over me”, Trump said.
California’s primary is June 7.
Should he reach the magic number of 1,237, the nomination is his because almost all delegates are bound to vote for their candidate in the first round.
Trump drew thousands of supporters to the rally, some of whom were unable to fit inside, and found themselves gathered outside facing off against the anti-Trump crowd.
Two patrol cars were damaged, but no major injuries were reported. One news photographer captured a man wearing a Trump T-shirt whose face had been bloodied.
Police in riot gear came on horseback to push the protesters back.
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