Protests outside President Trump’s rally in Minnesota took a violent turn as demonstrators began to set fire to campaign memorabilia, confront police, and throw urine.
Trump was speaking at a rally in Minneapolis Thursday night after sparring with Mayor Jacob Frey for a week about the high security costs. Protesters turned out in force, with hundreds chanting anti-Trump slogans and waving handmade signs, according to the St. Cloud Times.
As the rally wound to an end and supporters began to flood from the Target Center stadium, demonstrators became more aggressive. Around 9:30 p.m., a video was posted to social media that showed protesters burning red “Make America Great Again” hats in the street. Those at the protest were reportedly calling the police “pigs.”
Breaking: outside Minneapolis Trump rally. Protestors lighting Maga hats on fire. Rushing police. Calling them pigs, etc. Escalating scene. pic.twitter.com/HxUFzs8OWF
— Matt Finn (@MattFinnFNC) October 11, 2019
At one point after the event, a group of demonstrators could be heard chanting, “Nazi scum! Off our streets!” A video shows someone shout, “There’s a Nazi over there,” presumably at a Trump supporter. People are seen running and it appears the man was hit by one of the protesters.
A man in a blue jacket seemed to be leaving the Trump rally by himself when he was spotted by a protester who yelled: “There’s a Nazi over here!” A group of protesters then attacked the man, slapping and pushing him. He finally ran away. pic.twitter.com/jzYaWgca9g
— Jenna Johnson (@wpjenna) October 11, 2019
Throughout the evening, some people blew whistles while others banged drums and yelled, “Lock him up!” to attendees of the rally as they left.
Demonstrators threw urine at one point during the fray, and police had to deploy pepper spray during the protests, which largely settled down around 11:30 p.m. A number of people were reportedly arrested during the anti-Trump demonstrations.
