Protests outside of a Donald Trump rally in New Mexico escalated to violence Tuesday night (May 24), leaving reports of police injuries, damage to Albuquerque's convention center, and at least four arrests in it's aftermath. Despite the chaotic scene that followed the event, only one of the arrests was made outside of the arena, as the preceding seizures occurred while removing three people singled out for disrupting the Republican candidate's speech. Officials confirmed the use of pepper spray and smoke grenades, but have denied accusations that protesters were fired upon by pellets.
An anti-Trump contingent had already begun to form by the center's entrance in the hours leading up to the event. Video of protesters taunting attendants as they passed through set the usual tone for a Trump rally, before the crowd of dissenters swelled and night fell. As police continued to escort saboteurs who managed to get into the center, out onto the street, officers in riot gear were met with increasing fervor. By night's end there had been documentation of over a dozen demonstrators unfurling banners, chanting, and throwing fake money inside of the 9,000 seat arena. Meanwhile, footage from outside showed merchandise put aflame and bottles being hurled as the glass door of the ABQ center was left shattered along with some of the edifice's windows.
The images were reminiscent of the level of disorder exhibited during the Chicago take over in March. Thanks to some pivotal planning, the city was able to keep rival protesters apart, and despite tweets from the department warning that those lingering in the late hours were "looking to cause trouble & be destructive," police refrained from clashing with the contingent. Several officers were treated after having been pegged by rocks.
Source: complex.com|Youtube
