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Violence breaks out near Trump rally in St Louis amid reports of racial slurs Violence breaks out near Trump rally in St Louis amid reports of racial slurs
(35 minutes later)
Violent clashes broke out near a rally for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in St Louis on Friday. At least one bloodied person was carried into an ambulance amid demonstrations by supporters and opponents of the Republican frontrunner.Violent clashes broke out near a rally for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in St Louis on Friday. At least one bloodied person was carried into an ambulance amid demonstrations by supporters and opponents of the Republican frontrunner.
Related: Trump campaign dogged by violent incidents at ralliesRelated: Trump campaign dogged by violent incidents at rallies
Hundreds of people gathered around the Peabody Opera House in downtown St Louis, many in line for the rally and nearly as many to protest. Videos posted to social media showed Trump supporters hurling racial slurs at black protesters and anti-Islamic remarks at reporters, and taunting both. Violence has become an increasingly common feature of Trump’s rallies. This week, a Trump supporter sucker-punched a protester being escorted out of a venue by police and Michelle Fields, a reporter for a conservative news site Breitbart, alleged that Trump’s campaign manager assaulted her.
Though Trump has said he discourages violence at his rallies, the Republican frontrunner has encouraged it at times. He recently responding to a protester by asking supporters : “Knock the crap out of him, would you? Seriously, OK, just knock the hell. I promise you I will pay for the legal fees, I promise, I promise.”
The clashes on Friday came as hundreds of people gathered around the Peabody Opera House in downtown St Louis, many having been turned away from the over-capacity rally while others were there to protest. Videos posted to social media showed Trump supporters hurling racial slurs and anti-Islamic remarks at protesters and reporters.
St Louis police tackled and took away two men with their hands tied. One, who had a bloodied face, gave his name to MSNBC as Anthony Cage. He was taken into an ambulance, telling police: “I can’t breathe.”St Louis police tackled and took away two men with their hands tied. One, who had a bloodied face, gave his name to MSNBC as Anthony Cage. He was taken into an ambulance, telling police: “I can’t breathe.”
Protesters held signs declaring Trump a racist, and alluding to his remarks that Mexican immigrants are “rapists” and “criminals” who should be kept out of the US with a wall. Protesters held signs declaring Trump a racist, and alluding to his remarks that Mexican is deliberately sending “rapists” and “criminals” into the US as well as his support for a wall on the border with Mexico.
Trump supporters shouted back: “There’s nothing racist about him at all.”Trump supporters shouted back: “There’s nothing racist about him at all.”
In several places, screaming matches nearly turned into violence. In one case, partisans dragged a white man away from a black woman after he became furious for having been touched and pushed her back. In another, a white man in a baseball camp gestured “come here” to protesters while shouting: “Do one of y’all motherfuckers want to go? C’mon – bring it! Bring it!” In several places, screaming matches nearly turned into violence. In one case, people dragged a white man away from a black woman after he became furious for having been touched and pushed her back. In another, a white man in a baseball camp gestured “come here” to protesters while shouting: “Do one of y’all motherfuckers want to go? C’mon – bring it! Bring it!”
Elsewhere, the police broke up altercations and stray protesters on each side shouted at each other. Slogans included “No room for hate”, “fuck Donald Trump”, “fuck Islam” and “I’ve got 100 bucks for whoever knocks that bitch out.”Elsewhere, the police broke up altercations and stray protesters on each side shouted at each other. Slogans included “No room for hate”, “fuck Donald Trump”, “fuck Islam” and “I’ve got 100 bucks for whoever knocks that bitch out.”
St Louis police appear to have been on high alert, and recent racially charged protests against police violence in the city and its surrounds clearly colored protests against Trump: “black lives matter” signs and T-shirts were scattered throughout the picket lines. St Louis police appear to have been on high alert; recent racially charged protests against police violence in the city and its suburbs clearly colored protests against Trump: “black lives matter” signs and T-shirts were scattered throughout the picket lines.
But the surreality of an unusual campaign season also made itself felt: a man in a Spider-Man suit marched alongside Bernie Sanders supporters while a white-robed evangelist in a fisherman’s hat preached near a pro-Trump “Cardinal Cowboy”. Occasionally the clashes became comparatively civil, through heated arguments and awkward conversations. But the surreality of an unusual campaign season also made itself felt: a man in a Spider-Man suit marched alongside Bernie Sanders supporters while a white-robed evangelist in a fisherman’s hat preached near a pro-Trump “Cardinal Cowboy”. Many of the interventions between Trump supporters stayed comparatively peaceful and were limited to heated arguments and awkward conversations.
Violence has become increasingly common inside Trump’s rallies. This week, a Trump supporter punched a protester being escorted out by police, another incident caught on video, and a reporter for a rightwing news site alleged that Trump’s campaign manager assaulted her.
Though he has said he discourages violence, Trump has occasionally encouraged it, recently responding to a protester by asking fans: “Knock the crap out of him, would you? Seriously, OK, just knock the hell. I promise you I will pay for the legal fees, I promise, I promise.”