Opponents of Donald Trump have clashed with police in the capital of New Mexico State where the presidential hopeful held a meeting with supporters in the Albuquerque Convention Center. Mounted police used pepper spray and at least one arrest was made.
The demonstrators opposing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee have been burning T-shirts and throwing plastic bottles at police. They attempted to knock down barricades and refused to obey law enforcers ordering them to clear out. Police officers used pepper spray and allegedly smoke grenades, physically dragging away some of the most active protesters.
The aggressive demonstrators gathered near the local convention center where thousands of Trump’s supporters gathered to listen to their candidate. Anti-Trump protesters held banners: “Trump is Fascist” and “We've heard enough,” reports Associated Press.
Donald Trump suggested that his opponents “go home to mommy” and added that some of the “kids” that came to oppose him are “still wearing diapers.”
Police were present at the turmoil in full riot gear.
Albuquerque was the first stop in Trump’s jorney through New Mexico, America’s most Hispanic state.
New Mexico’s Susana Martinez, head of the Republican Governors Association, is the only Latino governor in the US. Earlier she criticized Trump’s remark about building a wall on the Mexican border.
During the Albuquerque meeting Trump criticized the governor, citing negative stats about New Mexico’s growing number of citizens on foodstamps.
“The Governor will not be bullied into supporting a candidate until she is convinced that candidate will fight for New Mexicans, and she did not hear that today,” said the governor’s spokesman Michael Lonergan.
Trump’s supporters said the violence outside the convention hall does make them nervous.
Albuquerque attorney Doug Antoon claimed he saw stones smashing windows in the hall when he was leaving late at night.
“This was not a protest, this was a riot. These are hate groups,” he said about the anti-Trump gathering.