Donald Trump had a rally in Orange County, Calif., this week and things got wild, weird and violent. As Trump addressed thousands inside the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, hundreds of protesters raged outside, causing some serious traffic and damage to police cruisers parked outside the venue. The protest escalated so quickly that authorities seemed to be caught off guard.
The protest started with scenes we are already too used to seeing from Donald Trump rallies.
#DonaldTrump supporters chant "build the wall" as man waves Mexican flag. #CostaMesa pic.twitter.com/EkI2LKrSwo
— Ruben Vives (@LATvives) April 28, 2016
Credit: @LATvives / Twitter
You either really love Trump or you really hate Trump. There doesn’t seem to be a middle ground forming in this campaign.
Both sides were clearly heated and willing to scream and yell to get their point across.
Scene from earlier today when #DonaldTrump supporters and protesters taunt each other in #CostaMesa pic.twitter.com/tA53c7SW71
— Ruben Vives (@LATvives) April 29, 2016
Credit: @LATvives / Twitter
And, tbh, it isn’t a Trump rally if the candidate doesn’t overly exaggerate the turn out.
Thank you Costa Mesa, California! 31,000 people tonight with thousands turned away. I will be back! #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/4P0tzvZn0e
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 29, 2016
Credit: @realDonaldTrump / Twitter
According to Trump, 31,000 people showed up to Pacific Amphitheatre for his rally. Google “Pacific Amphitheatre capacity.” We’ll wait.
And someone finally decided to call him out on it.
Trump claims there are 31,000 people here. There are not.
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016
Credit: @mattdpearce / Twitter
That person was Matt Pearce, a national reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
#Slayyyyy
The amphiteatre where he spoke seats 8,500 people. https://t.co/w0JAmCFiyC
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016
Credit: @mattdpearce / Twitter
And he even included a picture.
Sometimes Google is really smart, sometimes it ain't. pic.twitter.com/5bvYBEHNUG
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016
Credit: @mattdpearce / Twitter
Dale, bro!
Credit: New Girl / Fox / newgirlonfox / Tumblr
Maybe Trump thought the protesters were there for his rally?
CostaMesa Demonstrators have moved east of Fairview on Fair Dr. PD holding the line at Fairview @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/Z6ZBdJz1Yo
— Kevin Takumi (@KevinTakumi) April 29, 2016
Credit: @KevinTakumi / Twitter
It wasn’t long till things started to get a little wacky, as protesters started line dancing.
No words for protestors line dancing outside the Trump rally in Costa Mesa. pic.twitter.com/R2izVHTJEK
— Nidia Becerra (@nidia_b) April 29, 2016
Credit: @nidia_b / Twitter
It low key looked like someone’s tío turned on “Payaso del Rodeo” by Caballo Dorado, and the crowd responded.
And not one…
OC ANARKO DRIFT DONUTSSS AGAINST #DONALDTRUMP IN #COSTAMESA (vid from a comrade/homie) pic.twitter.com/GjEVCsTrU6
— L.A. ONDA (@QueOndaLA) April 29, 2016
Credit: @QueOndaLA / Twitter
…but TWO people did doughnuts in the middle of the protesting crowd.
Protesters now Newport Blvd and Fair drive where protesters watch vehicles doing donuts. #CostaMesa pic.twitter.com/fHpcTOVlGb
— Ruben Vives (@LATvives) April 29, 2016
Credit: @LATvives / Twitter
That seems pretty unsafe…
It wasn’t long until the protesters took to the streets and blocked traffic heading to the freeway.
Protestors have blocked the on ramp to I-55 outside #CostaMesa #TrumpRally https://t.co/HZgTI4lkCY pic.twitter.com/xlnYxKymF2 via @LATvives
— Revolution News (@NewsRevo) April 29, 2016
Credit: @NewsRevo / Twitter
And they even ended up attacking motorists.
This just happen #CostaMesa #DonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/t0hS8EEdIU
— Ruben Vives (@LATvives) April 29, 2016
Credit: @LATvives / Twitter
“Rallies that take to the streets are usually led by a group, and are not wild and all over the place like tonight,” David Villanueva, a member of Chicanos Unidos in Santa Ana, a group associated with the anti-Trump demonstrations, told LA Times.
As the protest went on, the violence and anger escalated, resulting in damaged police cruisers…
People jumping on police car outside @realDonaldTrump rally. Window smashed few minutes earlier pic.twitter.com/SOsFarQEVr
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) April 29, 2016
Credit: @JDiamond1 / Twitter
…and some physical altercations.
A @realDonaldTrump supporter just got punched in the face as a scuffle broke out in the street: pic.twitter.com/3h3Fllm3V3
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) April 29, 2016
Credit: @JDiamond1 / Twitter
In the end, 17 people were arrested as a result of the protest, but no major injuries were reported.
#OCSDPIO Post Trump Rally Protest over. Approx 20 arrests by Costa Mesa PD. No major injuries. Crowd dispersed by 11pm. No further updates
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSD) April 29, 2016
Credit: @OCSD / Twitter
READ: Los Angeles Latinos Give Trump A Piece of Their Mind
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