The Slatest

Anti-Trump Protests Turn Violent Outside San Jose Rally

Police move in to disperse anti-Trump protesters as they demonstrate outside the convention center where Donald Trump held an election rally in San Jose, California on June 2, 2016.

Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Violence, once again, erupted outside of a Donald Trump rally on Thursday, with anti-Trump protesters clashing with his supporters in the San Jose streets. According to the Associated Press, Trump fans were leaving the event when they “were pounced by protesters, some of whom threw punches and eggs”:

A dozen or more people were hit and car windows were broken. Trump hats grabbed from supporters were set on fire on the ground. [At] least one woman was pelted with an egg.

Police stood their ground at first but after about 90 minutes moved into the remaining crowd to break it up and make arrests. At least four people were taken into custody, though police didn’t release total arrest figures Thursday night. One officer was assaulted, police Sgt. Enrique Garcia said. There were no immediate reports of injuries and no major property damage, police said.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders’ campaigns both quickly denounced the violence—though San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, a Clinton supporter, did push some of the blame onto Trump. “At some point Donald Trump needs to take responsibility for the irresponsible behavior of his campaign,” he said.

Media reports from the scene estimate there were between 300 and 400 protesters gathered outside the rally. The demonstrations began peacefully enough that afternoon but, in the words of the Guardian, “quickly descended into violence on Thursday night.” Images shared on social media by reporters at the scene paint a rather terrifying picture.

This is not the first time that violence has broken out in tandem with a Trump rally. In April, for example, about 20 people were arrested outside a Trump rally in Orange County when protests turned violent there. And then, of course, there’s all the violent incidents involving Trump supporters, protesters, members of the media, and campaign/security staff that have happened inside Trump events over the past year.

Read more Slate coverage of the 2016 presidential election.