If you don't know Chicago, UIC is the University of Illinois at Chicago, a large campus just west of downtown Chicago. The neighborhoods west of UIC and the medical center are considered the west side of Chicago. These neighborhoods are poor and desperate. These were the neighborhoods where Fred Hampton was gunned down by the Chicago police department in a raid against the Black Panthers. It's been nearly fifty years since those events, but it's never been too far from the surface.
Donald Trump canceled his rally at the UIC Pavilion Friday evening due to concerns about safety, according to his spokesperson.
A speaker came out to the podium and made an announcement.
"Mr. Trump just arrived in Chicago and after meeting with law enforcement has determined that for the safety of all the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight's rally will be postponed until another date. Thank you very much for you attendance and please go in peace," he said.
The 10,000 seat Pavilion was nearly filled when the rally was canceled. As the crowd waited for the event to begin, it became apparent that it included at least hundreds of protesters. Activist Jedidiah Brown told me he and other infiltrators were on a mission to disrupt Trump's speech as often as possible.After all, what represents American values more than shouting down people you disagree with?
"How does a man who speaks a message that's going to take America backwards become the possible frontrunner of an entire party that represents American values?" Brown asked.
The crowd of protesters outside the area swelled to at least 1,000 people. Some attendees said they had signed up for tickets, but those tickets were never collected so anyone could have gotten into the event. Protesters surrounded the Pavilion, heckling attendees as they left.
Protesters outside the Pavilion were loud, but peaceful. Inside the Pavilion, there appeared to be thousands of protesters in attendance, mostly young people and UIC students. At the announcement, undercover protesters who had entered the Pavilion as Trump supporters broke into wild celebration, shouting "We stopped Trump! We stopped Trump!"
Well, did they? I'm not so sure. This much I do know -- we're in for an ugly summer.
29 comments:
they may have just added to Trumps vote totals in the future. and those mexican flags... perfect way to rile up Trump sympathisers, and create new ones... way to go, Democrats. Turn this election into USA V Mexico and see how far that goes.
yes, its gonna be an ugly summer, and an even uglier 4 years when Trumps wins the presidency, beating Mexico in a 48 state landslide.
In the last two elections Democrats fired up blacks to vote in unprecedented numbers. That was okay. Can you imagine the gnashing of teeth if people openly vote for Trump on racial grounds? Oh my. I'd better get off Facebook quick before it goes full panic.
This is a classic example of "whatever you sow, so shall you reap." Trump and his supporters have fostered a culture of violence at rallies (including manhandling a female journalist) and Trump himself has made subtle hints at silencing those who go against him (i.e. making it easier to sue journalists). You think it was bad when certain right-of-center groups were surprise audited or denied tax exempt status?
Any comments Trump has made since Friday's riot shows he has an utter lack of self-awareness.
Brad, I'm no Trump guy, but your argument falls pretty flat, especially within the context of Lefty anti-speech protests.
W.B.
Trump is what the GOP has sown with bush borders and a millionaires first trade policy.
Blame trump all you want, if that makes you feel good. It won't change the result though.
Brad, you are spot on with your analysis. I find the Trumpet Swan so pathetically stupid that he cannot even take responsibility for his words. He had said he would take full responsibility for his words and actions - unlike the Muslim President. Then when presented with the opportunity to own up, Voldemort caves. But, I would expect nothing less as he continually deflects if it looks like he maybe wrong. That is why 90 to 95% of all his statements are factually incorrect as stated by Politifact, but he never apologizes, because he does not feel the need to do so - or to even ask for forgiveness. But his God complex can only go so far and it is a shame he does not realize that.
Gino, I am going to go out on a limb to state Little Donnie will not be president. Back in 2012 I predicted Obama would win and predicted every state correctly that he and Romney would win except for 1 - Florida - which Obama did not even need. I know this is not a typical election, but as this gets rolling people will start to see the real man DT is and will be reviled. I am willing to be wrong, but I hope I am not - for all of our sakes.
I am on the road so I am only seeing these comments now. My issue is shutting down Trump's rally entirely. If you decry Trump's worldview and bully boy tactics, I say great. If you silence him through threats of violence, screw you. What happened last night in Chicago was shameful. Period. Full stop.
I would agree that violence is not the way to do it. However, peaceful protests - whether inside or outside VD's rally - is fair game. I find it ironic that VD wants to have his freedom of speech, but is very quick to shut down the opposition's ability to do so. And he needs to take responsibility for his word usage instead of being disingenuous. But I am not sure if he is capable of that.
CB, it didn't appear to be very peaceful. I may end up writing in Voltaire for pesident. Between the more thuggish elements of Trump's supporters and the fulll-on goon squad of the SJW, this is getting Spanish Civil War like.
Obama is divisive.
Trump just says what's on his mind.
Trump's supporters are a marginalized people finding their voice.
Trump's protestors are angry mobs silencing political speech.
None of this has anything to do with race.
Whatever.
Strawman are divisive, too.
I'm not saying you're making that argument, but you're in denial if you don't recognize that plenty of people are.
I'm not arguing there isn't a racial a d pct. It's getting all Ray Bolger in here.
Make that "aspect."
all the racism i see comes from the side Obama is on.
Sorry, Gino, not seeing that, but I know there is no point in going through that discussion.
And you've identified the issue, CB. You apparently can't be bothered to think about Gino's point of view and thus dismiss it out of hand. That's not going to work as a long-term approach.
Mr. D, I do see Gino's position and though I disagree with it, that is not the problem. What I find dismissive re: Gino's point is he does not answer the racism acussations against Voldemort. Instead he comes back with a "he started it" comment about Obama. You cannot be disingenuous and then cry foul.
And here is a link to a story from a reporter sitting with the protesters in the front of VD's rally stating VD's supporters were just as good at instigating violence as the "thugs". http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/03/donald-trump-chicago-protest-213728?o=0
i wasnt talking violence here, but since you want to... saying the others guys were just as bad as your guys, is NOT a defense of your guys.
i did answer the racism charges by saying i only saw racism coming from the other side. that kinda answers it, dont it?
and when are YOU going to answer the racism charges against Obama's people? you havent yet, and i'm waiting...
may i assume you are short in the tooth, using the 'Voldemort' tag? may i suggest you get out more, and not rely upon childhood fantasy novels to inform your opinion?
I'm going to post something else this morning on this topic. Maybe it will help you understand my particular concerns, CB. We're in motes and beams territory, big time.
Gino, I do not see the racism charges you speak of. And whenever you are ready to give examples, please feel free to do so. To say that Obama is racist is foolhardy IMHO. Actually, I have not ever read the Harry Potter books, but did really enjoy the movies. I use that term for orange dyed man because I do not want to have his name mentioned over and over again.
And I did not ever state it was right for anti-VD forces to use violence. The reason I brought it up was VD & others on his side were blaming Sanders, et al for starting the violence when evidence shows both sides are a guilty. But, alas, VD does not know how to take responsibility so he will not admit his rally goers are part of the problem. Even with the 70 year old guy cold-cocking the black young man. That is so overly pathetic it is sickening.
Mark, thank you for posting that article. I do completely understand the rage some people feel. I do feel some is legitimate, some is misguided and, as the author mentioned at the beginning of the article, some is based on racism. No matter what the rage is. my point is VD needs to calm down with the rhetoric. If he does not, the blood will be on his hands.
Also, it looks like part of the conservative media has the wheels falling off. http://money.cnn.com/2016/03/14/media/michelle-fields-ben-shapiro-resign-from-breitbart-news/index.html
Also, it looks like part of the conservative media has the wheels falling off. http://money.cnn.com/2016/03/14/media/michelle-fields-ben-shapiro-resign-from-breitbart-news/index.html
A tiny part. There's a story there, but I suspect it's not what you think it is. I may write about that in the next few days.
I will be interested to see your article, Mr. D.
This article seems to have a dual perspective of the protests. https://www.commentarymagazine.com/politics-ideas/campaigns-elections/trump-is-loki/
The more I think about all this, the more queasy I feel. This is going to get ugly.
Yes it will. If VD is close to becoming the nominee the Republican National Conference in Cleveland will be interesting. They have already ordered 200 more suits of armor for the police, a tank and many feet of steel barricades along with many other things.
Yes it will. If VD is close to becoming the nominee the Republican National Conference in Cleveland will be interesting. They have already ordered 200 more suits of armor for the police, a tank and many feet of steel barricades along with many other things.
And do you know why they'd need those things?
The protests they are a-coming. I am praying they and the police response will not be like 1968 Chicago.
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