Donald Trump postponed his rally in Chicago on Friday evening over safety concerns, prompting angry scenes as supporters and protesters clashed both inside and outside the venue. The event at the University of Illinois' Chicago Pavilion was called off at the last minute on the advice of law enforcement, with scuffles and fights breaking out among the crowd.
Inside the arena, tensions were high long before Trump was due to arrive. Protesters wearing shirts such as 'Muslims united against Trump' were ejected, while police patrolled the aisles holding plastic handcuffs. Attendees grabbed signs from one another, exchanging curses and vulgar gestures. Outside, more than a thousand demonstrators blocked streets, chanting and setting up a microphone and speakers, as police helicopters circled overhead.
A Trump campaign statement said the postponement was for the safety of the tens of thousands of people gathered, urging them to 'go in peace'. Trump later told MSNBC and Fox News that it was 'sad when you can't have a rally', asking what had happened to freedom of speech. He described protesters as 'extremely dangerous' and noted the history of violent rallies in Chicago, referencing the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
The scenes mirrored violent incidents at recent Trump rallies, including one in St Louis earlier that day. At least one reporter was arrested amid the chaos. One protester, Violet Ornelas, 28, mocked Trump, saying: 'If he can't even handle Chicago, what makes him think he could handle Isis?'
