Today in Redding, Calif. Donald Trump rambled, as he does, about the tenor of his campaign. “No problems whatsoever.’ Then his supporters ‘walked out and they got accosted by a bunch of thugs'”.
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This is only the most recent example of protesters turning violent at Trump rallies.
While Clinton isn’t talking about the protests, she is talking Trump, telling California crowds she wants to win in their state so she’ll have momentum going into the general election.
In an editorial Friday, the San Jose Mercury News criticized protesters for making Trump look sympathetic.
The protesters spilled into the nearby streets, with some standing on cars. At least four people were taken into custody, though police didn’t release total arrest figures Thursday night.
Many of the attendees were attacked out in the open, said Pete Constant, a former San Jose councilman and former police officer.
The fight broke out during the protest of the Trump rally at San Jose Thursday.
But Trump, speaking in Redding on Friday, made light of the mayor’s concerns. “Look at him”, Trump said to the crowd, pointing directly at Cheadle in his suit and tie.
Donald Trump’s supporters are usually the ones being blamed for creating chaos, but it was demonstrators Thursday night who attacked the GOP frontrunner’s supporters creating an “ugly, bloody scene” as one headline read.
Still, Sanders added that Trump would not be defeated with violence, but called for peaceful organizing. Bernie Sanders said, “My thoughts are very clear”. “Now is it a surprise that people who don’t like him are stepping over that bar?”
“I am not a Trump supporter”, he continued.
Police said they need anyone who was a victim of an assault or can provide witness information to come forward and help with the investigation. Tump signed both, Cheadle said.
Garcia said uniformed officers refused to break from their “skirmish line” to break up nearby scuffles because they weren’t deemed life threatening and that “additional force can incite more violence in the crowd”.
Cheadle described himself as a Republican, but said he would not necessarily vote for Trump even after attending his rallies.
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Asked why he felt the perception toward him has been less racially tinged, the congressional candidate said it was because he didn’t fit “stereotypes”. The message resonated in Redding, which residents say has been hit hard by the economic downturn. “I mean, super sensitive”. “Trump is gonna do things for us”.
