How Bernie Sanders supporters shut down a Donald Trump rally in Chicago
Little did he know they actually would shut it down.
Friday night, hundreds of protesters invaded Trump’s rally while thousands more marched outside, leading the candidate to abruptly cancel the event due to safety concerns. The night spun out from there, as angry Trump fans clashed with protesters, who saw the shutdown as a victory.
Protesters interrupt virtually every Trump speech. But what made Chicago different were its scale and the organization behind the effort. Hundreds of young, largely black and brown people poured in from across the city, taking over whole sections of the arena and bracing for trouble.
And as the repeated chants of “Ber-nie” demonstrated, it was largely organized by supporters of Bernie Sanders, the Democratic presidential candidate who has struggled to win over black voters, but whose revolutionary streak has excited radicals of all colors.
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/how-bernie-sanders-supporters-shut-down-donald-trump-rally-chicago
So - after the dust settles, this is where we are. I applaud the Berners, BLMers and MoveOn.orgers who organized this. There were some minor injuries, but they were caused by the quick-to-anger Trump supporters, from all indications. Standing and chanting is NOT violent, but the Trump fans' reactions were.
Here's the organizing Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1060752830629598/?active_tab=highlights
= new reply since forum marked as read
The hundreds of yellow/black signs from Americans United for Change were obviously designed/ordered quite awhile ago. The University Staff was also involved apparently.
I guess what I'm saying is that it appears that many groups came together for this effort and that this was not an all-of-a-sudden protest. A petition with over 40K signatures was circulated around campus and delivered to the University. I'm not sure Bernie supporters deserve either credit or blame for this - and this was a Congressman, citizens of Chicago and students of the University of Illinois led event -- who planned this from apparently weeks ago.
-snip
Almost since Trump announced the Chicago rally a week ago, groups were mobilizing, including securing free tickets to get into the UIC Pavilion either to attend and protest, or to prevent Trump supporters from gaining access to the arena, which seats nearly 10,000.
On Monday, a group of Latino elected officials led by Democratic U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, of Chicago, called on people to show up and express opposition to Trump's candidacy.
In addition, UIC faculty and staff signed off on a letter asking administrators to cancel the rally because it could turn violent. And more than 40,000 signatures were collected on a petition started by a student leader asking how security would be handled and who would pay for it.
-snip
(bolding mine)
From Chicago Tribune
Protesters mock Donald Trump supporters who appeared stuck in the venue's parking garage after the Repu
Donald Trump supporters and protesters clash March 11, 2016, outside the UIC Pavilion after the rally for the Republican presidential candidate was canceled.
Protesters speak out during a Donald Trump campaign rally March 11, 2016, inside the UIC Pavilion.
Protesters celebrate after the rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was canceled at the UIC Pavilion on March 11, 2016, in Chicago.
A Donald Trump supporter argues with protesters outside the canceled Trump rally March 11, 2016, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
Police detain a man as clashes continue outside the Donald Trump rally March 11, 2016, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
some of those being Bernie supporters and the more "outspoken" ones inside being dirty tricks from most likely both sides (especially with a history of engaging in dirty tricks).
Posting a MSNBC article and facebook page as if that PROVES anything. 