Presidential hopeful Trump reels supporters into Hartford

By TAYLOR HARTZ

STAFF WRITER

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump spoke to a throng of local supporters on Friday, filling the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

Posters filled the air with the phrase “The Silent Majority Stands with Trump” as the leading GOP candidate took the stage at 7 p.m. in an appearance in advance of the April 26 primary in Connecticut.

With a center full of supporters, Trump noted that his following has turned from a silent majority to “a big loud majority.”

“We’re going bring our jobs back, they’re being sent to Mexico,” said Trump,

“We’re going to build a wall and Mexico is going to pay for it.”

Trump spoke about a loss of manufacturing jobs in the state, citing a 30 percent decrease since 2000. He criticized the recent announcement by General Electric that their headquarters will relocate from Fairfield to Boston.

“If I were governor we wouldn’t be losing General Electric,” said Trump of the move that will cost the state hundreds of jobs. “If I’m elected president, we’re bringing our companies back and bringing our jobs back.”

Plainville resident Roberta Lalama attended the rally to support Trump, and said she was happy to see so many locals, especially younger residents, rallying around this campaign.  “It was very exciting,” said Lalama, “It was a very enthusiastic crowd.”

As for those opposing Trump, Lalama said “The protesters were mostly corralled up front,” and “They were kind of a sorry bunch.”

While thousands cheered for Trump, a select few spoke up in opposition during his speech. Security removed nearly 20 protesters from the rally, as Trump shouted “Get ‘em out” each time.

Outside the convention center, scores gathered to speak out against the GOP candidate. Protesters converged on the streets and sidewalks to show support for other candidates, or to criticize Trump’s platform.

Hartford Police Department monitored protesters and urged them off of private property.

Bristol resident and registered Democrat Brandon Hazleton said he stood outside with protesters on Friday night. Rather than holding a sign or chanting, Hazleton said he was “observing and engaging in conversation,” in hopes of understanding how Trump supporters planned to “make America great again.”

“Unfortunately, the attempt to have a civil conversation led to a few threats,” said Hazleton, who said he saw “small pockets” of violence break out in the crowd.

Hazleton, who changed his voter registration from Independent to Democrat to support Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (D), in the primaries this year, said he saw a few Trump supporters “lose their cool.”

Booing erupted from the crowd inside at the mention of the two leading Democratic candidates., Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Trump called Clinton “a disaster” and “a joke”, and referred to Sanders as “basically a communist.”

With the state primaries approaching on April 26, Trump urged supporters to show their support for him at the ballot.

PHOTOS by TAYLOR HARTZ