Anti-Trump Protesters Clash With Police In San Diego


San Diego police clashed with anti-Trump protesters on Friday afternoon after an anti-Trump demonstration got rowdy. Protesters refused to disperse after a Donald Trump rally in the city, a rally that had already gotten violent and out of control. As a result, police on the scene called in additional officers to handle the situation.

The San Diego Police Department sent out a tweet indicating that more officers were moving into the area as things went down.

According to officials, almost 20 people needed and received medical attention, and at around 4:40 p.m. local time, San Diego police declared that the remaining protesters were unlawfully assembling in the Gaslamp district of the city because of the increasing violence of the anti-Trump protesters as they clashed with police and Trump supporters.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the anti-Trump protesters had been subdued and order restored by 6:00 p.m. local time.

Unfortunately for the anti-Trump protesters, the object of their ire and anger, Donald Trump, had left the scene of his San Diego rally at around 4:30 p.m., so they were just tangling with his supporters.

Police say that during the physical violence that broke out between anti-Trump protesters and Donald Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters and law enforcement, some anti-Trump protesters were throwing plastic bottles, which hit some of the police officers trying to restore order. One man, wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, took it off and burned it in the middle of the crowd.

Multiple street fights took place, and the most tense moments of the afternoon happened after the Donald Trump rally ended and Trump supporters began to intermingle with anti-Trump protesters.

All in all, only three people were initially arrested in the melee. Later reports upped that number to over a dozen. There has been no word regarding whether they were for or against a Donald Trump presidency.

While Donald Trump was speaking, some protesters were throwing things at the police officers standing between the Trump event and protesters outside.

The San Diego Trump debacle wasn’t the only protest against Trump that took place on Friday. Earlier in the day, Trump spoke in Fresno. He was protested there, too, but by a much smaller group of angry protesters.

Many of the anti-Trump protesters in San Diego carried signs in support of Bernie Sanders, while others chanted, “Whose streets? Our streets!” and brandished Mexican flags. Inside the Trump venue, Donald Trump supporters demanded that anti-Trump protesters who had made it inside be escorted out. In just one sweep of the event, at least 30 anti-Trump protesters were removed.

When one Trump protester began to yell obscenities at the former reality TV star, Trump had something to say before having the man removed from the event.

“Thank you, you have a beautiful voice. Get ’em out.”

When Hispanic Trump protesters yelled and chanted in Spanish: “El pueblo unido, jamas sera vencido,” (the people united, will never be defeated), Trump supporters responded with a racial jab.

“Speak English!”

anti-trump
[Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]
The San Diego Tribune reports that before the Friday afternoon clashes, the pro and anti-Trump attendees of the San Diego Donald Trump rally were actually very peaceful, despite their differences of opinion. Before the day got violent, both sides merely yelled insults and jeers at one another, sometimes over bullhorns and loudspeakers. It was loud and a bit disorderly, but not physically violent, for most of the day.

Donald Trump’s rallies have become increasingly violent, tumultuous events as this year’s presidential campaign has progressed. There have been dozens upon dozens of reports of people being physically assaulted at his events, sometimes by his security. Earlier this year, the majority of the incidents seemed to involve Black Lives Matter protesters and other anti-Trump advocates being assaulted by Trump supporters or his security. However, as the campaign season has progressed, there have been increasing reports of anti-Trump protesters getting violent as well.

[Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

Share this article: Anti-Trump Protesters Clash With Police In San Diego
More from Inquisitr