Donald Trump’s rally in New Mexico turned violent as anti-Trump demonstrators clashed with police, hurling rocks and burning clothes at officers, the latest scuffle to hit the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s campaign.
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The scene outside Albuquerque’s convention center was chaotic as police ushered protesters away from Trump’s event and into the nearby streets.
Police added: “Only arrests at this point have been from inside the rally”.
Protesters outside the convention center clashed with police in riot gear.
Massive protest outside Trump ABQ rally.
Elaine Baca of Albuquerque said she went to the rally to show Hispanic support for Trump. There were no delegates at stake in the Democratic primary.
The crowd yelled profanities and mocked the candidate’s supporters as they filed into the Albuquerque Convention Center for what will be Trump’s first campaign stop in New Mexico ahead of the June 7 primary. However, Trump’s team and Republican officials also have said the RNC plans to take the lead on major presidential campaign activities such as voter identification and turnout. Ryan has met with Trump since announcing he was not yet prepared to back the NY billionaire’s candidacy, but has said work still remains to unite the party.
Trump said he would create jobs, defeat terrorism and save the nation’s Social Security program.
The altercations left glass at the entrance of the convention center smashed. Protesters could be heard screaming “F**k Donald Trump”, while the crowd descended into chaos. “I don’t find him offensive at all”.
Tuesday marks Trump’s first campaign appearance in New Mexico. Selwyn, a 50-year-old Lakota-Sioux woman, says she thinks Trump would be good for Native Americans.
He also said the number of people on welfare in New Mexico has tripled and said Gov. Susana Martinez, head of the Republican Governors Association and the nation’s only Latina governor, needs to do a better job.
A protester is removed during a speech by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Albuquerque, N.M., Tuesday, May 24, 2016.
Trump insists that his about-face from self-funded candidate to one who relies on donors is happening only at the request of the Republican National Committee.
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Despite this, the delegates are bound by state party rules to vote for Trump on the first ballot at the national convention, USA senate candidate and former chairman of the Washington state Republican party Chris Vance, who was at the convention, told the Guardian. Trump is then scheduled to hold campaign rallies in California and Montana later this week.
