Protests erupted in California for the second day in a row on Friday against U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is moving closer to winning the Republican nomination after a string of victories this week.
Police in riot gear hold back demonstrators against U.S. Republican
presidential candidate Donald Trump outside the Hyatt hotel where Trump
is set to speak at the California GOP convention in Burlingame,
California, U.S., April 29, 2016. REUTERS/Noah Berger
Video grab of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump being
helped down from a jersey wall after his motorcade took a detour due to
protests, in Burlingame, U.S.
A demonstrator holds a sign in protest of Republican U.S. presidential
candidate Donald Trump during the California Republican Convention in
Burlingame, California, U.S., April 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
Demonstrators against U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald
Trump gather outside the Hyatt hotel where Trump is set to speak at the
California GOP convention in Burlingame, California April 29, 2016.
REUTERS/Noah Berger
Demonstrators hold a sign in protest of Republican U.S. presidential
candidate Donald Trump during the California Republican Convention in
Burlingame, California, U.S., April 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
An attendee holds an American flag during the California Republican
Convention in Burlingame, California, U.S., April 29, 2016.
REUTERS/Stephen Lam
Demonstrators sit in front of a line of police in riot gear outside
Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign rally in
Costa Mesa, California April 28, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Demonstrators dance in the street outside Republican U.S. presidential
candidate Donald Trump's campaign rally in Costa Mesa, California April
28, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Police in riot gear arrive to break up a demonstration outside
Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign rally in
Costa Mesa, California, April 28, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Blake
BURLINGAME, Calif.: Protests erupted in California for the second day
in a row on Friday against U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump,
who is moving closer to winning the Republican nomination after a string
of victories this week.
The billionaire businessman was forced to halt his motorcade and go through a back entrance to a hotel to give a speech to the California Republican convention and avoid several hundred loud protestors gathered outside.
"That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made," Trump told the gathering in Burlingame, south of San Francisco, after weaving around a barrier and clambering across a road to get to the venue. "It felt like I was crossing the border actually."
Demonstrators, some of whom held Mexican national flags, at one point rushed security gates at the hotel and police officers had their batons out.
The mogul had already drawn protests in California, with chaotic scenes on Thursday outside a Trump rally in Costa Mesa. Anti-Trump protesters smashed the window of a police patrol car and blocked traffic and some 20 people were arrested.
Protests have become common outside rallies for Trump who has earned ardent critics, as well as support from Republican voters, for his rhetoric against illegal immigration. His campaign abandoned a rally in Chicago last month after clashes between his supporters and protesters.
He has accused Mexico of sending drug dealers and rapists across the U.S. border and has promised to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it.
The billionaire businessman was forced to halt his motorcade and go through a back entrance to a hotel to give a speech to the California Republican convention and avoid several hundred loud protestors gathered outside.
"That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made," Trump told the gathering in Burlingame, south of San Francisco, after weaving around a barrier and clambering across a road to get to the venue. "It felt like I was crossing the border actually."
Demonstrators, some of whom held Mexican national flags, at one point rushed security gates at the hotel and police officers had their batons out.
The mogul had already drawn protests in California, with chaotic scenes on Thursday outside a Trump rally in Costa Mesa. Anti-Trump protesters smashed the window of a police patrol car and blocked traffic and some 20 people were arrested.
Protests have become common outside rallies for Trump who has earned ardent critics, as well as support from Republican voters, for his rhetoric against illegal immigration. His campaign abandoned a rally in Chicago last month after clashes between his supporters and protesters.
He has accused Mexico of sending drug dealers and rapists across the U.S. border and has promised to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it.
Trump, who described himself this week as the party's
presumptive nominee, would take a large stride towards knocking his
Republican rivals out of the presidential race if he wins the Indiana
primary next week.
On Friday, he said he is approaching the 1,237 delegates
needed to clinch the nomination. Trump, who has run as a political
outsider and only recently started making inroads to the Republican
establishment, called for the party to band together behind him. But
said he could win the White House without them if needed.
"There should be and there has to be unity. Now with that
being said, would I win, can I win without it? I think so, to be
honest," Trump told the convention. His speech drew applause, though not
the fervent reception of his usual campaign rallies.
INDIANA FIGHT
Trump's main rival, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, on Friday picked
up the backing of Governor Mike Pence of Indiana in a rearguard battle
to damage Trump's chances.
"I'm not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the
upcoming Republican primary," Pence said on an Indiana radio show.
Cruz, from Texas, is trailing the former reality TV star in
the Midwestern state after losing to him by a wide margin in all five
Northeastern states that held nominating contests on Tuesday.
A CBS poll earlier this week found Trump with about 40
percent of support in Indiana, compared to 35 percent for Cruz. The poll
had a margin of error of 6.6 points. Other polls have also shown Trump
ahead.
The Republican front-runner was in California ahead of its
June 7 primary, when the most convention delegates of the Republican
nominating cycle will be at stake.
After his speech, Trump made a similarly unconventional exit out of the hotel via the back door.
Cheryl McDonald, 71, of Discovery Bay, said she had to pass
through protesters to get inside the hotel. "They were yelling. I think
the only words they know in the dictionary are profanity," said
McDonald, who said she is a Trump supporter.
(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Timothy Ahmann in Washington and
Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Writing by Emily Stephenson; Editing by
Richard Valdmanis and Alistair Bell)
- Reuters
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