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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Nicky Woolf and Julia Carrie Wong in San Jose, California

Protesters chase and attack Trump supporters in San Jose – as it happened

Protesters chase and attack Trump supporters after San Jose rally

Protesters attack Trump supporters, as Trump calls for Clinton to 'go to jail'

What began as peaceful protests outside a Donald Trump rally in San Jose, California quickly descended into violence on Thursday night, with supporters clashing with anti-Trump demonstrators in running-battles around the convention center.

Inside the rally, the presumptive Republican nominee for president responded to a fiery speech earlier in the day by his main rival, Hillary Clinton, in which she lambasted him as “ temperamentally unfit” to be president and castigated his “thin skin”.

Trump struck out at Clinton, attacking her on her email controversy, saying: “I will say this: Hillary Clinton has to go to jail.”

A couple hours later, the demonstrators had mostly dispersed, but not until after some anti-Trump demonstrators had chased – and in some cases punched and attacked – departing Trump supporters, some of whom appeared intent on provoking and fighting as well, while other protesters tried to prevent the attacks.

For the fuller story, read the dispatch from Guardian reporters Julia Carrie Wong and Nicky Woolf, who were on the scene tonight.

The Associated Press reported:

“Our police officers have done an extremely courageous and professional job so far,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said by phone.

The mayor, a Democrat and Hillary Clinton supporter, criticized Trump for coming to cities and igniting problems that local police departments had to deal with.

“At some point Donald Trump needs to take responsibility for the irresponsible behavior of his campaign,” Liccardo said.

Carlos Ceballos, an iron worker from Salinas who travelled to San Jose to protest Trump, was more understanding of the violent outbursts.

“I guess it happens to the best of us,” he said as the final protesters retreated from riot cops. Ceballos said that he does not like Trump supporters, but as for Trump himself, “I hate him.”

When the peaceful late afternoon protests turned violent

Around 7.30pm local time, approximately 1,000 demonstrators clashed with Trump supporters leaving the arena in San Jose where Trump spoke.

But earlier in the afternoon, hundreds of protesters, mostly Latino students from nearby colleges and high schools, as well as a large contingent of union members, had gathered peacefully outside the convention center, chanting their anger at Trump and at times jeering at his supporters as they passed by.


“I have family members who are illegal immigrants and they’re scared,” said Monse Lozano, 18, of San Jose. “I’m a citizen and I can’t do much for them.”

Demonstrators waved Mexican flags and chanted in Spanish and English. One man yelled at Trump supporters entering the arena, “Somos mad Americanos que ellos.”

But as Trump supporters began trickling out of the venue, the tenor of the crowd shifted. One woman in Trump apparel taunted the crowd before retreating into the nearby Marriott hotel, prompting a shift in the mood of the crowd.

As more Trump supporters began leaving the arena, bands of mostly young men began chasing, and in some instances hitting, them. The protest grew chaotic.

Some protesters set red “Make America Great Again” hats on fire. Some burned small American flags.

At one point, a group of protesters entered the convention center parking lot, where Trump supporters were attempting to leave. Some banged on cars, yelling at the occupants. As protesters attempted to surround a Corvette, the driver gunned the engine, almost hitting several people and sending the protesters running.

As night fell, and riot cops began to move in on the protesters, Martha Garcia, a student from San Jose, expressed disappointment in the violence.

“It’s sad to see San Jose representing like this. Trump is the one igniting the hate. You can’t fight fire with fire,” she said.

Updated

As the police advance on the small crowd of remaining protesters, some are pushing back.

Police in riot gear, brandishing nightsticks, pushed the main group of a hundred or so protesters up the road. Several protesters attempted to build a barricade using traffic barriers, but others pushed it over with shouts of “fuck your wall”.

Others threw water bottles at the police as they addressed protesters over a loudspeaker, saying “this is an unlawful assembly, disperse now or you will be arrested.”

A large group of protesters fled down a side street, while a few stood and faced them.

After a loud call, the police charged the protesters and at this point appear to have begun making arrests.

Tom Llamas of ABC News says that tonight was “the most violent demonstrations we’ve seen”.

Video of the moments before and after a woman was egged by protesters around 7:30 pm local time.

Updated

Reports of flag burning by protesters

John Stanton of Buzzfeed posted a video of a flag being burnt as a crowd cheered.

Updated

Further outbreaks of violence outside Trump rally as police stand back

There are more scuffles outside the San Jose venue where Trump was speaking earlier. With police continuing to stand back there have been reports now of several attacks on supporters of the Republican presidential candidate.

The video below from our reporter Nicky Woolf shows some of what that descent into disorder.

John Podesta, chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, is saying that violence has “no place in this election”.

CNN political reporter Sara Murray spoke with protesters in San Jose who said they did not approve of some of their counterparts.

Police have so far been holding back as disorder unfolds outside the Trump rally. There was an initial attempt by law enforcement, according to reporters on the ground, to hold back anti-Trump demonstrators from the Republican nominee-in-waiting’s supporters. Since that failed police clad in riot gear have been mostly keeping a distance and, it seems, occasionally retreating.

Trump supporter has eggs thrown at her

NBC News correspondent Jacob Rascon tweeted early a photo of a woman being attacked by protesters with eggs and bottles.

Our reporter Julia Carrie Wong was on the scene from the start, reporting on what were initially peaceful protests before they erupted into clashes once Trump was in the venue and began speaking. Her Twitter feed attests to that chronology.

A video posted by Tim Pool of Fusion shows a man coming up behind a Trump supporter in a yellow shirt and swinging something at the side of his head, striking him.

Updated

Reporter Nicky Woolf has some live footage from the scene.

Protests break out near Trump's San Jose rally

Good evening from the Bay Area where, not for the first time, a Donald Trump rally has broken out into disorder. There have been repeated clashes outside of the Republican frontrunner’s rally in San Jose, according to the two Guardian two reporters on the ground, Nicky Woolf and Julia Carrie Wong. They’re relaying details of tense clashes and occasional fights breaking out.

In an ugly twist, there are multiple reports of anti-Trump supporters violently attacking the billionaire’s supporters as they trickled out of the venue where he finished speaking around 30 minutes ago. We’ll bring you updates as things develop.

Updated

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