Here we go again. Another Trump rally, more violence from provocateurs. After Donald Trump’s rally at the San Jose Convention Center, attendees were attacked by provocateurs carrying Mexican flags as they left the campaign event. At least a dozen Trump supporters were punched, at least one person was pelted with an egg, Trump hats were grabbed from supporters were set on fire, four people were arrested and at least one police office was assaulted. You can see some of the violence in the following video:
The San Jose Police didn’t handle the violence as well as did the Sand Diego Police:
Police declared the demonstration an unlawful assembly 30 minutes after the Trump rally ended, around 8:30 p.m. PST/11:30 p.m. ET. Officers wearing tactical gear were seen guarding the convention center and blocking protesters.
Nearly an hour after the Trump rally ended, police brought out a megaphone and told the demonstrators to leave or face arrest.
According to a tweet from NBC News’ Jacob Rascon, one protester yelled back, “we don’t follow the law.” [from USA Today]
According to this Associated Press report, police stood their ground at first, keeping their distance from the crowd as the scuffles played out, but keeping them from getting any closer to the convention center. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, a Democrat and Hillary Clinton supporting Democrat failed to blame the provocateurs for the violence. Instead Liccardo criticized Trump for “coming to cities and igniting problems.”
“Our police officers have done an extremely courageous and professional job so far,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo told The Associated Press by phone. “We’re all still holding our breath to see the outcome of this dangerous and explosive situation.”
As we have been reporting this wasn’t the first time there was violence at Trump campaign event. Last week 18 people were injured and 35 people were arrested after Trump’s San Diego rally. Several anti-Trump “protesters” were arrested after a Trump rally for the candidate in Anaheim after anti-Trump hooligans threw objects at police and refused to disperse when asked. On Tuesday, Riotous provocateurs turned violent throwing burning T-shirts, plastic bottles and other items at police officers, injuring several, and toppled trash cans and barricades. Police responded by firing pepper spray and smoke grenades into the crowd outside the Albuquerque Convention Center, which was packed with thousands Trump supporters. In Costa Mesa, California, in April crowds smashed windows on a cop car and tried to flip it over. In March, violent clashes between Trump’s supporters and protesters in Chicago, caused a Trump event to be cancelled.
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