Protests Rage Outside Trump Rally In Orange County: Police Car Window Smashed, Roads Blocked

[Purveyor]

Source: Los Angeles Times

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.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-gays-for-trump-crowd-gathers-at-costa-mesa-rally-20160428-story.html

[northernsouthern]

1. If this was us, we f@cked up!

Like it or not he has the right to rally. How the f@ck would we fell if they did that at one of our rallies? We are f@cking hypocrites. Protest if you like, but don't do that sh!t.

[7962]

12. And that is EXACTLY correct. Nail on the head.

This stuff only HELPS Trump
where are all his supporters getting violent at HRC or Sanders rallies? Might be able to find an instance or two, but generally its not happening.

[northernsouthern]

16. I think our media is also a bit to blame...

They are too scared to say more in defense of his rallies (ignore Fox since the protesters would not be watching that channel). This is just going to help Trump for if his group ever goes a bit overboard to point back at this incident. Trump has had a few punchy and tasteless people at his rallies, that had a positive effect of point out the negative anger to voters...now this is saying the exact opposite. I even hated when they blocked the Trump rally in AZ, but I guess at least they did it more peacefully. We seem to forget that freedom of speech is two ways.

[Mz Pip]

17. I agree.

It makes us liberals look bad. Trump says inflammatory stuff and the media will be focused on this. Why give the RW more ammunition?

[Angel Martin]

19. Just stay away from the other side's rallies !

Last edited Fri Apr 29, 2016, 07:28 PM - Edit history (1)

some of the things Trump is campaigning on include "law and order" and "support the police"

TV coverage of this kind of protest makes his point in a way that even a $100 million ad buy could not.

[7962]

24. Another good point!

[Angel Martin]

33. and this was in Costa Mesa !

imagine what will happen if Trump tries to have a rally near downtown LA.

if the "law and order" issue is flagging, all Trump has to do is schedule an event somewhere like the LA Coliseum

The ensuing chaos might be enough for a multi-day national story.

Unfortunately a lot of these "protestors" have their own agenda, and defeating Trump at the ballot box is not their priority.

[Yo_Mama]

18. It was probably a small group that was violent.

I agree with your statement, except that all the protesters shouldn't be described as fucking up.

Anyone has the same right to protest a rally as those who attend it; it is the violence and blocking of public right of ways that are the problem.

[northernsouthern]

20. At the WTO...

a person passed a pipe bomb up past us to throw at the police, we all yelled at him, forced it back, and the person took it back and ran off. There are somethings as protesters we have to try and stop if we can. They later started looting down town. I think the police behaved so badly and overboard that the looting was overlooked...but if they had not been worse than these bad apples then I think the protesters would have been all painted as violent and thieves. People definitely have the right to protest the rallies, but not with violence or blocking people. Remember the KKK event in Cali where it was the protesters that started it and got arrested? It is like we are forgetting our own rules on freedom of speech, and we are becoming the "enforcers" we would have a problem with if it was Trump. I just don't like us giving ammo to be used against a valid movement. Trump supporters (the ones that many are worried about not the normal ones that are non-violent) will have a massive field day with this.

[7962]

26. Same thing happened in GA last week.

A supposed "white power" rally by the klan couldnt even muster 2 dozen participants. But the crowd that showed up to protest them started fighting with the cops and even pepper sprayed one of them. So what got on the news? the "peaceful gathering" of the handful of racists being attacked by a mob!

[northernsouthern]

30. Yeah.

We almost need a protest 101 class so that people know that no good comes from this. Many people that have these racists views were raised in areas that get little to no information, or are so divided that they never get to meet the other side. A peaceful protest allows people to come to your side more easily, a violent one allows them to cement their horrible views. The black guy getting punched in the Trump rally did far more good than any of this did. The person that punched him had to face the real results of his anger and hate, and had to sober on the reality that he just hit a guy because of his internal hate.

[840high]

31. .that^

[snot]

2. I fear this is what we get for allowing conservatives to de-fund public schools, de-educate

our populace.

[NobodyHere]

23. For realz?

[LarryNM]

3. This Type Behavior by Whomever and for Whatever reasons

just gives a bad image to anti-Trump Efforts. Not good.

[Democat]

4. Violence by protesters will only help Trump's campaign

Was the violence by protesters or Trump supporters?

[romanic]

5. "I'm protesting because I want equal rights for everybody, and I want peaceful protest,"

[IMG][/IMG]

Stomping on cars, throwing rocks, and trying to flip a police car over isn't peaceful protest dude. These jackasses just gave Trumpers more motivation to vote for him in the election. Idiots, all of them.

[elleng]

6. 'and I want peaceful protest,'

so do I. tramp's reaping what he's sown, and we'll all be his victims.

[GreydeeThos]

7. It sounds like opportunistic hoodlums finding an excuse for vandalism

[warrprayer]

8. It sounds liks people

who would rather be beaten and jailed than let a fascist become president.

[Democat]

9. Making Trump look good is helping him, not hurting him

Smashing cars and beating people up while Trump gives a speech makes Trump look like the reasonable adult.

[warrprayer]

21. nothing

makes Trump look like a reasonable adult.

[7962]

14. Oh please.

[warrprayer]

22. please what?

please be quiet while a nazi takes over the country?

[7962]

27. No one said be quiet. We're saying dont be violent assholes.

It only helps him & his followers say "See how they are? These are the threats to making America great again!"

[warrprayer]

34. I get what you're saying

I do not condone violence. But I can understand the feelings of people this racist s.o.b. has promised to target if he is elected.

[NobodyHere]

25. Maybe the protesters shouldn't be acting like fascists

[840high]

32. It sounded like bad behavior.

[leftynyc]

10. Are they TRYING to get donnie elected?

Because that's all this kind of shit is going to lead to. Morons.

[Oneironaut]

11. Fascists v. Fascists

Neither has tolerance for dissenting ideas. Both lash out angrily when they hear an idea that doesn't fit into their isolated little mental bubble.

If your first thought is to break stuff in response to someone's words, maybe you're the problem.

[7962]

13. [phone]!!

[winstars]

15. Trump got exactly what he wanted Thursday night. I know people who did NOT go because

there were rumors on social media ALL DAY that this was going to happen. (Trump people that is)

The Trump campaign counted on the Costa Mesa police sucking as usual, in dealing with these hoodlums and SUCK THEY DID.

Duhhh, not sure if the CMPD is aware of this, but there are a few gangs around SoCal and its a no brainer that on a Thursday night there was going to be trouble. The police were totally overwhelmed for no good reason last night.

The Costa Mesa PD had to go home and get their fucking horses to break up the crowd. (riot)

So yes, the people played right into Trumps little hands and he got EXACTLY the footage he wanted...


I am not blaming te cops instead of the nuts who were going crazy; I am just saying it was no accident that we are handwringing today....

Like in Chicago, this is a preplanned thing to have a rally in a area where you are sure to have trouble.

[7962]

29. "played right into their hands" Yes. Exactly

In THIS country, you should be able to hold a rally/speech/meeting any day of the week and not have violence oppose you. So much more is achieved by peaceful opposition

[Jackie Wilson Said]

28. Those directly affected by the GOP agenda of hate and destruction, as opposed to

those who wont be on the front line of the hate and destruction, might be a little upset.

Doesnt make their actions correct, but it is understandable.

He did call some of them rapists and has promised to deport some of them.