Footage from the floor of the venue suggests that many demonstrators succeeded in getting into the event. Images and video from journalists on the ground showed anti-Trump supporters flooding the floor of the university pavilion, surrounded by a heavy security presence.Chicago is LIT tonight!!!! — De-pro9 (@Deprogrammer9)March 11, 2016
One video, which has been played on a loop on cable news networks for most of the evening, shows a protester taking over the Trump-branded podium on stage before being pulled away by security.Man just ripped up a Trump sign at — Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon)March 11, 2016
Fights broke out again when the announcement came that Trump would not be showing up, and protesters erupted into cheers, and even some "Bernie" chants.Donald Trump rally cancelled in Chicago after protesters and supporters fight — Globalnews.ca (@globalnews)March 12, 2016
Outside the venue, aerial images showed swarms of people spilling into the streets, where Chicago cops were positioned in riot gear. CBS News reporter Sopan Deb, who was reportedly detained by police during the protests, tweeted that he had "never seen anything like what I am witnessing in my life."Massive 'Bernie' chants at — Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon)March 12, 2016
Trump supporters leaving UIC after he canceled are on the left and protestors are on the right — Jessyca Malina (@jessycamalina)March 12, 2016
As the chaos escalated in the hours after the venue was shut down, reports emerged of protesters clashing with police.Trump rally, protesters in Chicago (Aerial shots) PO-91FR, PO-92FR. — CNN Newsource (@CNNNewsource)March 12, 2016
Donald Trump protesters clash with police outside rally in Chicago — Globalnews.ca (@globalnews)March 12, 2016
One particularly disturbing video, posted by DNAinfo Chicago, showed cops beating demonstrators on the street.Another widely circulated image showed a bloodied police officer walking away from the protests.
In a phone interview with MSNBC shortly after canceling his appearance, Trump attempted to share his version of events, telling Chris Matthews that he decided to cancel the rally instead of letting people "mix it up.""I didn't want to see anybody get hurt," Trump said. "I thought it was better to cancel than to allow this to continue." Later, he added that he "can't even have a rally in a major city anymore."Of course, Trump fans have been "mixing it up" at most of his rallies, often with the at least implicit encouragement of the candidate, who has taken to referring to protesters as "bad dudes." On Thursday, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, a white septuagenarian Trump fan was arrested Thursday for sucker-punching a 26-year-old black man as he was being escorted of a Trump rally by security.After trump supports/activists met at intersection this is result. A bloodied police officer. — Jeff Orr (@JeffOrr773)March 12, 2016