Hundreds of demonstrators converged at California Republican Convention to protest Donald Trump ahead of his speech, but the scene turned ugly as some outraged protesters began stomping on cars, hurling rocks at motorists and began destroying private property to “express” their opposition to the GOP frontrunner.
Some protesters, wore bandanas over their faces and carried Mexican flags, uniting to block off the road in front of the Hyatt Regency. The move forced Trump’s motorcade to pull over along a concrete median outside the hotel’s back entrance.
Trump and his entourage got out and walked into the building.
Angry Trump protesters in California photo/twitter Davey Alba (@daveyalba)
“That was not the easiest entrance I’ve ever made,” Trump said once he began speaking at the convention, adding, “it felt like I was crossing the border.”
At one point before Trump arrived, about two dozen protesters tried to rush barriers near the hotel. Police handcuffed the doors’ handles on the inside as they chanted, “Get him out.”
One Costa Mesa police officer was struck in the head by a rock thrown by a protestor, authorities said and they noted that at least five police cars were damaged, requiring thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs.
Costa Mesa police confirmed that 17 people, 10 males and seven females, they were arrested and charged with suspicion of unlawful assembly.
Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Whittier), chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said there is “no doubt” Trump’s candidacy has made the Latino community “a target for hateful rhetoric, and in some cases physical violence.”
But destroying public property, she said, is not the answer.
“When we resort to violence, we’re playing into the very hands of people like Donald Trump,” Sanchez said in a statement released Friday. “I believe the solution must be peaceful protest and more importantly, directing our energy towards shifting our voter registration efforts into high gear.”
“No hate in our state!” and “Donald Trump, get out of the bay—immigrant rights are here to stay,” were BuzzFeed reporters, using a phone to broadcast the protest to Facebook Live.
Critics will say that this style of reporting glorifies the behavior and will encourage more violence at protests, giving the angry mob 15-minutes of fame, but cost tax payers and property owners thousands and possibly turning more dangerous.
Kaye Wonderhouse - Catherine "Kaye" Wonderhouse, a proud descendant of the Wunderhaus family is the Colorado Correspondent who will add more coverage, interviews and reports from this midwest area.
