AP Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast
Republican front runner Donald Trump had to postpone a rally in Chicago as a wave of protesters let their collective frustration be heard.
According to multiple reports, Trump postponed the event as hundreds of protesters surrounded the venue. The Associated Press reported that “a large portion of the crowd inside the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion broke out into raucous cheers. Meanwhile, supporters of the candidate started chanting ‘We want Trump! We want Trump!'”
A Trump spokesperson had to come out on stage to announce that the event would be postponed fearing for the inevitable chaos.
The event was dominated by small scrummages between protesters and supporters. Black, white, males and females were engaged in physical attacks against one another.
The protesters consisted of Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims and many more groups that has been targeted by Trump’s supporters and subjects of his dangerous rhetoric. These groups of people are routinely kicked out and assaulted at Trump rallies —but today was different. Since early evening their numbers grew and Chicago police began to remove protesters out of the venue one -by -one and within three hours the rally was postponed.
Trump said that Chicago police officials told him to cancel the event but CPD denies that.
Video shows some of the physical altercations:
https://twitter.com/TheXclass/status/708498484941496322
"@HoneyGuwop: Most powerful video I have of tonight! ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 #TrumpRally pic.twitter.com/mXGt3mc9qs" – We Gon Be Alrite.
— tanya hayles (@tanyahayles) March 12, 2016
"Donald Trump is responsible for his own rhetoric" Marco Rubio to @DonLemon on #TrumpRally https://t.co/AmDkTqPx2J https://t.co/1N2hwzm7Nk
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) March 12, 2016
#trumprally here you go the @GOP front runner @FoxNews @KatrinaPierson pic.twitter.com/b6yw0eJeP3
— Lauren Burke (@LVBurke) March 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/constantnatalie/status/708464964894367744
https://twitter.com/constantnatalie/status/708474031020904448
https://twitter.com/evanFmoore/status/708468414042525696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Outrage on Twitter grew as many users showed solidarity for the protesters:
https://twitter.com/constantnatalie/status/708460578935689216
https://twitter.com/constantnatalie/status/708440952147345408
Trump rally-goers react to news that the event was cancelled. #TrumpRally pic.twitter.com/9BHoLHj1zn
— Dr. JP Self-Helpist🇵🇸 (@JPHaddadio) March 12, 2016
Twitter is being overrun by conservatives who have never read the Constitution but are somehow experts on the First Amendment.#TrumpRally
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) March 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/KhaledBeydoun/status/708483176105115648
Liberals? Oh you mean Americans?
You better change your tone. We're not your employees. #TrumpRally https://t.co/mzQdfR3ZBq
— Trump owes $$$$$$$$$ (@jonathanjewel) March 12, 2016
The First Ammendment limits the GOVERNMENT not civilian protestors. No free speech rights have been violated. #TrumpRally #TrumpRallyChi
— #RIPBassemMasri 🙏 (@Delo_Taylor) March 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/TinaSfon/status/708481862801317890
https://twitter.com/theladysmiles/status/708481509121003522
Only thing wrong with the protests at #Trumprally is that they didn't happen sooner.
— John Lurie (@lurie_john) March 12, 2016
In the aftermath of the various melees, five people were arrested and two injured according to reports out of Chicago.
