Plan B Forum

Protests rage outside Trump rally in Orange County; 17 arrested, police car smashed



Hundreds of demonstrators filled the street outside the Orange County amphitheater where Donald Trump held a rally Thursday night, stomping on cars, hurling rocks at motorists and forcefully declaring their opposition to the Republican presidential candidate.

Traffic came to a halt as a boisterous crowd walked in the roadway, some waving American and Mexican flags. Protesters smashed a window on at least one police cruiser, punctured the tires of a police sport utility vehicle, and at one point tried to flip a police car.

"Dump the Trump," said one sign. Another protester scrawled anti-Trump messages onto Costa Mesa police cruisers.

"I'm protesting because I want equal rights for everybody, and I want peaceful protest," said 19-year-old Daniel Lujan, one of hundreds in a crowd that appeared to be mostly Latinos in their late teens and 20s.

"I knew this was going to happen," Lujan added. "It was going to be a riot. He deserves what he gets."[So you wanted a peaceful protest, but you knew it was going to be a riot and, you're just fine with that? ]

Video footage showed some anti-Trump demonstrators hurling debris at a passing pickup. One group of protesters carried benches and blocked the entrance to the 55 Freeway along Newport Boulevard, with some tossing rocks at motorists near the on-ramp.

By 10:15 p.m., the bedlam had largely subsided and Lt. Mark Stichter of the Orange County sheriff's department said no major injuries were reported.

Costa Mesa police confirmed that a total of 17 people -- 10 males and 7 females -- were arrested on suspicion of unlawful assembly. Details on the ages and names of those arrested were not released.

The violent demonstration was underway after Trump concluded his speech before a crowd of thousands.

"This is the anger people have against Trump," said Jose Cruz, 21, as he pointed to the protesters running in the middle of the street.

"It's not because he's white -- it's because of what he's said."

Several echoed the comments, saying they were drawn to the streets to counter Trump's stated policies on immigration and his inflammatory remarks about Mexicans.

The billionaire developer has drawn fierce criticism by claiming Mexico was sending rapists over the border. Later, he called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims” entering the U.S.

Along Newport Boulevard outside the fairgrounds, officers clad in riot gear and mounted horseback lined up across a roadway and slowly pushed the crowd down the street. Helicopters circled overhead.

Would be great fun to see a sitting president deal with felony charges from NY State.

wesw wrote:if it keeps up, we WILL fight back.

It looks like this violence was pretty much random and not focused at any person, Trump supporter or not.

if it keeps up, we WILL fight back.

Well some of it was random, but clearly where there was an opportunity to target a Trump supporter for attack it was done.

Photographic evidence proves that.

"The policeman isn't there to create disorder; the policeman is there to preserve disorder."

- Richard J. Daley

MajGenl.Meade wrote:Ah, the police riot of '68...

Lord Jim wrote:

MajGenl.Meade wrote:Ah, the police riot of '68...

Which bears absolutely no relationship whatsoever to what took place in SoCal yesterday...

MajGenl.Meade wrote:The Cleveland police persons assure North East Ohio that there will be no problem come July.

According to FBI reports, one part-time student, Terry Norman, was already noted by student protesters as an informant for both campus police and the Akron FBI branch. Norman was present during the May 4 protests, taking photographs to identify student leaders,[50] while carrying a sidearm and wearing a gas mask.

Further analysis of the audiotape revealed that four pistol shots and a violent confrontation occurred approximately 70 seconds before the National Guard opened fire. According to The Plain Dealer, this new analysis raised questions about the role of Terry Norman, a Kent State student who was an FBI informant and known to be carrying a pistol during the disturbance.

This Kind Of Crap Plays Right Into Trump's Tiny Tiny Hands...

Crackpot wrote:

This Kind Of Crap Plays Right Into Trump's Tiny Tiny Hands...

FYFY

rubato wrote:The natl guard made the identical excuse; they were afraid.

Neither had real cause.

It is just a matter of which victims seem innocent to you.

Yrs,
Rubato