Hours before the organized chaos in Chicago canceled a Donald Trump event on Friday night, rowdy protesters repeatedly interrupted Trump’s rally and speech in St. Louis.
The rally was interrupted six times by protesters in the first half hour alone, but the protest frenzy started before the rally began.
WATCH: Anti-Trump protesters clash with Trump supporters ahead of rally in St. Louis.https://t.co/u4TKt7h9xT
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) March 11, 2016
An anti-Trump protester stands and walks on an American flag during a protest in St. Louis – via @shaqbrewster pic.twitter.com/275vDmgiPz
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) March 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/708381026578472961
Over 30 people had been arrested at press time and charged with disturbing the peace, but one person outside the event was also charged with third-degree assault.
Bloodied at St. Louis Trump rally. pic.twitter.com/3O65vsktvS
— Trymaine Lee (@trymainelee) March 11, 2016
During the event held at the Peabody Opera House, GOP front-runner Trump narrated the removal of protesters as the audience chanted “USA! USA!” He suggested protesters “Go home to Mommy” because “They contribute nothing.” At another point, Trump referred to protesters as “Young, spoiled kids.”
In the wake of a media narrative about violence connected to Trump, he mocked the media’s focus on reactions by Trump supporters. At one point he teased the protesters, “They can swing and hit people, but if we hit them back, it’s a terrible, terrible thing, right?”
The level of open animosity at Trump rallies has increased following repeated accusations that Trump and his supporters are “racist.”
Follow Breitbart News investigative reporter and Citizen Journalism School founder Lee Stranahan on Twitter at @Stranahan.
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