Trump supporters, protesters clash after ,Chicago rally postponed,Chicago Trump Rally
Trump supporters, protesters clash after ,Chicago rally postponed
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Some protesters were being detained and forcefully carried out
Maria Hernandez, a 25-year-old community organizer, broke out into dance as a Trump campaign staffer announced that the rally had been canceled
"I've never been more proud of my city," Hernandez told CNN
Hernandez, who came out to protest Trump, said the Republican front-runner's immigration policies, as well as racial divisions in her city, pushed her to show up and protest Trump's planned event
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"I'm protesting because I'm black and Mexican and I'm not sure where he wants to deport me to, but I deal with racism daily in Chicago and I've had enough," she said
One Trump supporter said he was "disappointed" that the event was postponed
"Protesters have won now," Marlin Patrick, 55, told CNN. "We just feel as if the protesters have taken over
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Debi Patrick, a 53-year-old Trump supporter who lives outside Chicago, said there should have been more security planned for the event, but said she didn't blame Trump for the atmosphere at the rallies, saying people are responsible for their own behavior
Asked if she would still vote for Trump on Tuesday, she said, "Absolutely, more than ever
Until today, we've never had much of a problem," Trump later told CNN's Don Lemon. Asked if he had any regrets about the charged rhetoric at his rallies, Trump was defiant
"I don't have regrets," Trump said. "These were very, very bad protesters. These were bad dudes. They were rough, tough guys
Authorities made five arrests, said Chicago Interim Police Superintendent John Escalante. One of those arrested was Sopan Deb, a CBS reporter covering the Trump campaign
Two officers suffered injuries, he said. One was hit in the head with a bottle
Some 300 officers were on hand for crowd control, according to Escalante. The Trump campaign didn't consult with authorities before calling the event off, he said
The Chicago Police Department was "confident" they could provide adequate security to protect Trump, his supporters and protesters, Escalante said
Mayor Rahm Emanuel praised officers' effort under difficult circumstances
"For all of us who cherish the ideals upon which our country was founded, the hateful, divisive rhetoric that pits Americans against each other demeans our democratic values and diminishes our democratic process," he said in a statement
"I want to thank the men and women of the Chicago Police Department for their hard work tonight in unexpected circumstances, and their continued commitment to protecting people's first amendment rights
A crowd of protesters outside the rally site had been steadily growing throughout the afternoon
Earlier Friday, 32 people were arrested in protests both inside and outside Trump's rally at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis, police said
Thirty-one people were charged with disturbing the peace, and one was charged with third-degree assault. St. Louis police declined to provide further details
Protests spill into streets
Soon after the event was postponed, scores of protesters -- a racial mixture of whites and blacks, Hispanics and Asians -- spilled out into the streets near the university, which is located in the city's downtown
Dozens of protesters gathered outside a parking garage adjacent to the arena, where police set up a human barricade to allow supporters to go to their cars and leave
More than a dozen police officers on horseback were there
"Let's go, let's go," one Chicago police officer told Trump supporters in a truck. "Go home
One supporter, who didn't give his name as he drove out, said the situation was dangerous and that he felt unsafe as protesters shouted at his car
At one point, a man on the third floor of the garage leaned over the edge and shouted at protesters, "I don't support Trump
