Early reports from Donald Trump’s campaign event in Albuquerque, N.M., indicated business as usual, as Trump pointed out a heckler here and there in the crowd to be escorted out. The presumptive GOP nominee reassured supporters that all was well.
"The safest place to be is at a Trump rally. It's love." – @RealDonaldTrump in Albuquerque
— Nick Flor-ProfessorF (@ProfessorF) May 25, 2016
It’s not love.
Here's the woman facing Trump supporters before police dragged her out. pic.twitter.com/4Wcan38Vcs
— Shaun Griswold (@shaun505) May 25, 2016
Before long, dispatches from the scene turned to accounts of clashes between riot police and protesters who burned Trump merchandise and attempted to break through the gates and into the venue.
They're burning @realDonaldTrump merchandise outside pic.twitter.com/ELsk9Zy3G1
— Blair Miller (@blairmiller) May 25, 2016
Big protest outside; this is a shot from the venue. Cops are directing ppl out back, saying front "isn't safe" pic.twitter.com/jvP4D3ym64
— Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) May 25, 2016
Riot police out in #ABQ, threatening @realDonaldTrump protesters to leave #HereWeGo
— Russell Contreras (@RussContreras) May 25, 2016
Watch: Dozens of extra officers brought in as Trump protesters break through barricades, chant "shut it down!" pic.twitter.com/goH1EPGzRj
— Jacob Rascon (@KPRC2Jacob) May 25, 2016
LOOK: @ABQPOLICE coming out in droves to deal with protests. pic.twitter.com/zjubKEpkEX
— Matt Howerton (@HowertonNews) May 25, 2016
Officers in riot gear block the doors to the #DonaldTrump rally after protesters broke through barricade pic.twitter.com/DZdsH0Xb44
— Elise Kaplan (@EliseKapNM) May 25, 2016
Protesters try to break down doors to Trump Albequerque event, chased away by police. Protesters now throwing gates, bottles at officers.
— Jacob Rascon (@KPRC2Jacob) May 25, 2016
Shit is going ham at this trump rally pic.twitter.com/Dq0h0lFKM5
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) May 25, 2016
Scene after Trump rally in NM: glass door to convention center smashed. Riot police diverting crowd from main exits pic.twitter.com/lfcIRDnS3s
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 25, 2016
Main exit for Trump rally in Albuquerque is blocked due to protesters outside, attendees have to file out alt exits: pic.twitter.com/pqdvt9FW1f
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) May 25, 2016
Police put up barricade over glass door @ exit that was shattered by protesters throwing objects outside Trump event pic.twitter.com/75HDHFC4DU
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) May 25, 2016
Cops barricading broken glass door now. Ppl trying to leave Trump rally inside heard what may've been rocks thrown pic.twitter.com/MyrMAujEKI
— Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) May 25, 2016
One officer inside the venue just told people they need to keep moving because one of marks by the glass doors was a bullet hole.
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) May 25, 2016
Note: Police report that the hole might have been created by a pellet gun (see below).
Protestors at #TrumpRally setting things on fire, throwing rocks at #ABQ convent ctr, breaking windows @KOB4 pic.twitter.com/reNnu7bTmu
— Caleb James (@yocalebjames) May 25, 2016
#TrumpRally protestors lighting debris on fire and launching it at police. @ABQPOLICE fortifying bldg. @KOB4 pic.twitter.com/LYRyybyvFT
— Caleb James (@yocalebjames) May 25, 2016
It appears the city has passed “protest” and entered into full-scale riot territory.
I got tear gassed again! Damn it! @realDonaldTrump protest getting violent. Protesters attacking @abqpolice pic.twitter.com/mewBAJZaKF
— Russell Contreras (@RussContreras) May 25, 2016
Protesters outside Trump event now burning pro-Trump flags and signs, police line trying to push them back, officers now putting on masks.
— Jacob Rascon (@KPRC2Jacob) May 25, 2016
Officers toss what appears to be tear gas, Trump protesters kick some of the canisters back at police. Officers also using pepper spray.
— Jacob Rascon (@KPRC2Jacob) May 25, 2016
Protesters throwing rocks, charging at police outside of Trump rally in NM. Man live on CNN: "F— Donald Trump!" pic.twitter.com/Ku1p8qei38
— Ryan Parker (@TheRyanParker) May 25, 2016
Watch: Protesters throw rocks at police, officers respond by tossing smoke canisters, using pepper spray. pic.twitter.com/BEpSXb1XSh
— Jacob Rascon (@KPRC2Jacob) May 25, 2016
Police telling press in the rally that we can't leave, that shots were just fired at the building. pic.twitter.com/BZgPokjYTc
— Candace Smith (@CandaceSmith_) May 25, 2016
Press being held inside because officers "can't guarantee your safety." Authorities operating under assumption it was a weapon.
— Kevin Cirilli (@kevcirilli) May 25, 2016
There is no confirmation that any gunshots were fired, contrary to reports. Possible damage to Convention Center Windows by pellet gun
— Albuquerque Police Department (@ABQPOLICE) May 25, 2016
.@abqpolice say no tear gas deployed, just smoke, pepper spray. Police say tear gas ready tho #trumprally https://t.co/OxVffiSM8C
— Russell Contreras (@RussContreras) May 25, 2016
Massive protest outside Trump ABQ rally. Police in standoff with anti Trump protesters pic.twitter.com/RWvvRYLL4Y
— Kayla Epstein ? (@KaylaEpstein) May 25, 2016
Glass bottles being thrown. @ABQPOLICE backing protestors to the point they're funneled into this small space @KOB4 pic.twitter.com/7zglwDcB16
— Caleb James (@yocalebjames) May 25, 2016
.@BCSDSheriff deputies hold a line on Tijeras & 2nd as protests continue #TrumpRally #Trump @KOB4 #ABQ pic.twitter.com/xxqeW8N0eq
— Caleb James (@yocalebjames) May 25, 2016
I'll say it again. Election 2016. Now with Riot Police. https://t.co/Zn5isrwu7j
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) May 25, 2016
And rioters. Don’t forget the rioters.
* * *
Update:
This video obviously is from earlier in the day, but the sight of the Trump protesters doing their thing in broad daylight is priceless.
Few hundred Trump protesters chant, beat drums and perform rituals outside the Albequerque convention center. pic.twitter.com/RG47HnFRQX
— Jacob Rascon (@KPRC2Jacob) May 24, 2016
Editor’s note: Twitchy has updated this post with additional tweets.
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