Police use pepper spray, arrest 2 at Trump rally

After weekend protests that force one rally’s cancellation, GOP contender vows ‘to start pressing charges’

A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump heckles demonstrators before the start of a rally at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Illinois, on March 11, 2016. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP)
A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump heckles demonstrators before the start of a rally at the University of Illinois in Chicago, Illinois, on March 11, 2016. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP)

Police said they used pepper spray twice outside a Trump rally in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday evening and two people were arrested for refusing to follow the law.

In a Twitter post late Saturday, Kansas City police did not say if the use of pepper spray was on demonstrators or Trump supporters. Television images showed one protester rubbing his eyes and saying that he had been sprayed.

While a boisterous group of protesters gathered outside the theater where Trump spoke in downtown Kansas City, the event concluded without significant incident. Police said the majority of people exercised their rights to gather peacefully.

Trump’s remarks were interrupted about a dozen times by protesters who managed to get into the theater, and they were escorted out.

Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the International Exposition Center in Cleveland, Ohio, March 12, 2016. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)
Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the International Exposition Center in Cleveland, Ohio, March 12, 2016. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

Amid the interruptions, Trump asked law enforcement officers securing the site to arrest the protesters, telling the audience that fear of an “arrest mark” on people’s records may put an end to the near-constant disruptions at his rallies.

He said he was “going to start pressing charges against all these people,” a day after he called off a planned Chicago event because it attracted so many protesters.

Arrests, Trump said, were “going to ruin the rest of their lives. We’re not going to have any more protesters, folks.”

The latest interruptions follow a weekend of protests at Trump rallies that saw the Republican frontrunner surrounded by Secret Service agents as one man rushed the stage in Ohio, as well as a rally canceled in Chicago over concerns protesters would disrupt it and make the event unmanageable.

Most Popular
read more:
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.