Fresh off a decisive string of primary victories in the Northeast, Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign announced today that the Orange County fairgrounds in Costa Mesa will be the site for its California kickoff event, as the state’s June 7 primary looms ever large in the race for the GOP nomination.
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A robust cadre of police officers sought to disperse the protesters, who were blocking traffic, by forming a line to nudge the protesters down the street.
To watch a livestream of the Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa, California, the heart of Orange County, click on the video below.
Protesters jumped on police cars and other vehicles, and tossed water bottles and other objects at the police. “No major injuries. Crowd dispersed by 11 pm”, it said. A young man got on top of the police cruiser and started stomping on it before slipping and falling off. Protesters scribbled anti-Trump messages on police cars and on at least one red sports auto parked in a gas station parking lot.
Many hundreds more were turned away and couldn’t get into the campaign event on Thursday night.
Dozens of cars were stuck as the crowd flooded the street, chanted and waved flags just after the Thursday night Trump rally at the Pacific Amphitheatre. “There won’t be no [sic] United States without Mexicans”, one of the protesters said. And in Orange County, which is more than a third Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric lit a match.
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump addresses a campaign rally at Costa Mesa, California, on April 28, 2016.
“I think people are exhausted of these messages of hate”, she said.
Earlier in the evening, a half-dozen anti-Trump protesters taunted those waiting to get into the venue.
Meanwhile six people, including a police officer, were temporarily isolated and monitored after a suspicious white powder was found at Trump Tower in New York City.
In March, a planned Trump rally in Chicago saw clashes between supporters and opponents of the controversial Republican candidate. “This is because of Trump and what he says”.
What Kasich said: No statement came from the candidate or his campaign although this was posted on Kasich’s Twitter account, “Never wavering from his commitment to a campaign focused on optimism and strength, John Kasich will continue making his supporters proud”. Another sign said, “Black Christian Women for Trump”.
“I’m protesting because I want equal rights for everybody, and I want peaceful protest”, 19-year-old Daniel Lujan said.
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Several streets were temporarily blocked.
