Supporters hold ‘March 4 Trump’ rallies around US

NEW YORK — Supporters of US President Donald Trump convened at Trump Tower, the Washington Monument and other spots around the country to show their pride in his presidency.

Groups of hundreds of people turned out in places from Colorado’s state Capitol to near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for Saturday’s “March 4 Trump” demonstrations. Sometimes, they clashed verbally with generally smaller groups of counter protesters.

At Trump Tower, a couple hundred supporters gathered and chanted “U-S-A” and held signs with messages such as: “Yes he is our president.”

Some minor scuffles between dueling demonstrators at the Minnesota State Capitol were quickly defused by other protesters and police. Near Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach Post reported that people on both sides exchanged profanities.

Trump’s motorcade briefly stopped so he could wave to supporters.

In Berkeley, California, supporters of Trump clashed with counter-protesters.

People wearing goggles, motorcycle helmets, gas masks or with their face half-covered with bandanas pushed each other, threw punches and hit each other with the sticks holding their signs.

Video of the scattered fights showed smoke bombs being thrown at the crowd and at least one man pepper-spraying a brawling group.

Berkeley police officers in riot gear stood by at the rally of about 500 pro-Trump supporters and opponents at a park less than a mile from the University of California, Berkeley campus.

Paramedics helped at least two men, one bleeding from the head and the other with cuts on his face.

Around 200 people rallied at Mount Trashmore Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

Some held American flags and others wore “Make America Great Again” hats and Trump T-shirts.

Also in attendance were some 100 counter-protesters, who quietly marched in from a nearby parking lot carrying a banner with the words “No Hate in Our Town.” Some wore tape over their mouths. They stood nearly silent behind a barricade.

Dozens of police officers were mainly on the fringe of the event.

In Austin, Texas, police said about 300 people rallied in support of Trump in a gathering outside the Texas Capitol.

The Austin American-Statesman reported some in the crowd Saturday afternoon toted umbrellas and wore rain gear while carrying signs of support for Trump. Some of the marchers waved US flags.

One of the organizers, Jennifer Drabbant of Austin, said there have been so many protests against Trump that she and others wanted to show there are people who support him.

Participants walked from Wooldridge Square Park to the state Capitol for a rally that began with a prayer and then featured pro-Trump speeches.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press