Donald Trump Cancels Chicago Rally Because of Large Protest Crowds

Chicago protesters shut down Donald Trump rally.

Photo Removed
Complex Original

Blank pixel used during image takedowns

Photo Removed

Chicago has spoken four days before the GOP primary in Illinois: Dump Trump. Donald Trump moved to cancel a rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavillion Friday after thousands of protesters gathered inside the rally and outside of it. Earlier on Friday 32 protesters were arrested at a Trump rally in St. Louis. Trump, who regularly throws out protesters from his rallies (mocking a Muslim protester) or students who’s only “crime” was being black, said at the GOP debate last night he doesn’t condone violence. This was in response to the fact a Trump supporter punched a black protester in the face at a rally, later being arrested. Trump canceled the Chicago rally fearing violence but things still got physical after the rally’s cancelation.

The irony here is that Trump was fearful of protesters when in fact his supporters have a long track record of doing abonimable things. In a past rally one Trump supporter called for a black man to be “burned alive.” On another occasion two self-proclaimed Trump supporters urinated on a Latino homeless man and attacked him with one supporter reportedly saying, "Donald Trump was right, all these illegals need to be deported.” Trump would call these two “passionate” which is more or less what he said last night. 

Inside the scheduled rally the Chicago Tribune reports there were several sections of protesters with one section described as mainly “African-American, Latino, Arab-American, and Asian-American” youths. Tensions between protesters and Trump supporters began to rise before the rally was canceled. According to the Chicago Tribune in one instance a female protester holding a “No Hate” sign yelled “f*** Trump” only to get things thrown at her from people in the upper balcony. 

Over 30 minutes after the event's planned start (6:00 p.m. CT) an announcement was made about the cancelation. CNN reported this was the statement from the Trump campaign about the cancelation: "Mr. Trump just arrived in Chicago and after meeting with law enforcement has determined that for the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight's rally will be postponed to another date. Thank you very much for your attendance and please go in peace."

Chicago Tribune reporter Bill Ruthhart posted videos of the scene inside the pavilion after the cancelation was announced. Protesters reportedly began chanting things like, "Hey, hey. Ho, ho. Donald Trump has got to go" while some Trump supporters chanted,  "Build the wall!"

The Chicago Tribune reported that Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said there had been no reported incidents of injuries or arrests at the rally as of 6:50 p.m. and that people were complying in exiting the pavilion.

CNN later reported “fistfights” between Trump supporters and protesters broke out. Police were seen detaining protesters and “forcefully” carrying them out, reports CNN. 

Trump said he canceled the rally because he “didn't want to see anybody get hurt” despite singing a different tune earlier after the St. Louis protests. Trump said, per the Chicago Tribune: "They're allowed to get up and interrupt us horribly and we have to be very, very gentle," Trump said in response to one of nearly a dozen interruptions as he spoke in St. Louis at the regal Peabody Opera House. "They can swing and hit people, but if we hit them back, it's a terrible, terrible thing, right?"

Latest in Life