Donald Trump’s Friday night rally in Raleigh, North Carolina was repeatedly interrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters, who were drowned out by loud boos and chants of “USA” from the GOP presidential candidate’s supporters.
His 50-minute speech at Dorton Arena was interrupted at least five times by protesters yelling “Black Lives Matter,” according to WNCN, NBC’s local affiliate. Each time, Trump smiled amusedly as supporters and security guards forcibly escorted the demonstrators from the building. The room erupted in a chorus of boos, and supporters waved American flags at the departing protesters.
“Isn’t it a shame? Thousands of people are pouring in and we have to get rid of one person,” Trump told the crowd. “He’s wasting our time.”
CNN’s Noah Gray, who was at the event, said that the 7,800-person arena was filled to capacity.
The Republican candidate predicted that the media would exaggerate the number of people kicked out and repeatedly referred to them as individuals even though video shows groups of people being escorted out. WNCN reported that 18 people in total were removed.
This isn’t the first time Trump’s speeches have been interrupted by protesters. One group of immigration activists got into physical and verbal altercations with Trump supporters at an October event in Richmond, Virginia, and another was forcibly dragged from a rally later that month in Miami. After a Black Lives Matter protester was kicked and pushed by supporters while being removed from an Alabama rally, Trump called the protesters actions “disgusting” and suggested that he “should’ve been roughed up.”
Watch the full video of the North Carolina rally below, via News Universe.
