Protesters throw rocks at police officers at a Trump rally in Albuquerque.
Protesters lit fires, broke through barriers, smashed a door and threw rocks at Albuquerque police officers at a Tuesday night campaign rally for Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
NBC News reports that “at around 8 p.m., protesters opposed to the presumptive GOP nominee rushed past a barricade and officers in riot gear were called in to block the locked entrance of the venue where the rally was being held.”
CNN elaborated, reporting that “the scene outside Albuquerque’s convention center was chaotic as police ushered protesters away from Trump’s event and into the nearby streets.”
“The protesters had broken a glass door to the convention center. Some taunted police and jumped on police vehicles as officers in riot gear and on police horses moved them away from the convention center’s exits.”
More: The moment protesters started attacking police, throwing chairs, rocks, water, and a gate at them. pic.twitter.com/ahalRir4SE
— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) May 25, 2016
News reporting over the clash appears conflicted as NBC News reports that “police threw smoke devices and used what appeared to be pepper spray,” while the Albuquerque Police Department reported on Twitter that: “The smoke that has been seen is not tear gas, it’s just smoke. We have not deployed tear gas at this time.”
The smoke that has been seen is not tear gas, it's just smoke. We have not deployed tear gas at this time.
— Albuquerque Police (@ABQPOLICE) May 25, 2016
However, raw footage by the Associated Press clearly shows police officers deploying both smoke devices and pepper spray.
There were also reports that shots had been fired at the event, but the Albuquerque PD tweeted that “There is no confirmation that any gunshots were fired, contrary to reports. Possible damage to Convention Center Windows by pellet gun.”
There is no confirmation that any gunshots were fired, contrary to reports. Possible damage to Convention Center Windows by pellet gun
— Albuquerque Police (@ABQPOLICE) May 25, 2016
The police did confirm that protesters were throwing rocks at their mounted police:
Protestors are now throwing bottles and rocks at our Police Horses.
— Albuquerque Police (@ABQPOLICE) May 25, 2016
And later confirmed that police officers “are being treated for injuries as a result of being hit by rocks.
Several #APD officers are being treated for injuries as a result of being hit by rocks. At least one subj arrested from the riot.
— Albuquerque Police (@ABQPOLICE) May 25, 2016
Below are a few more tweets of the night’s events as they unfolded:
Scenes from the situation post-Trump rally in NM: Protesters running over police car, riot police advance: pic.twitter.com/xoLTKMdpn9
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) May 25, 2016
- Source Links – August 29, 2020
- About Pat Warde: Eulogy Tribute by Eleanor Hughes – April 1, 2019
- Editorial Note – January 15, 2019
You must be logged in to post a comment Login