Demonstrators face off at Trump rally in California

San Diego, May 28: Thousands of pro- and anti-Donald Trump demonstrators faced off outside a rally for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in San Diego, with police out in force to head off violence.

Authorities said three people were arrested, including one for trying to climb over a railing, but the protests were mostly peaceful and there was none of the violence and mass arrests seen at Trump rallies in other cities.

News reports said Trump's hour-long speech inside the city's convention centre was interrupted at one point due to protesters who were quickly removed. Outside the venue, pro- and anti-Trump demonstrators faced off, with dozens of police officers in riot gear standing between the two groups. Authorities in San Diego earlier designated separate demonstration zones for the two sides to prevent them mixing.

Following the rally, police ordered the crowd to disperse, judging it to be an unlawful assembly, but many demonstrators remained. Protests in New Mexico turned violent on Tuesday, prompting fears of a similar escalation at Trump's campaign appearances in California this week.

Earlier on yesterday, demonstrators had also gathered at another Trump campaign appearance in Fresno, in central California, during which the bombastic candidate reiterated his vow to build a wall to prevent illegal immigrants entering the United States from Mexico.

AFP