Protesters, Trump supporters face off outside Vermont event

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is on Bernie Sanders’ turf of Burlington, Vermont-where the US senator served as mayor for eight years-for a rally on Thursday night that has rankled police and the mayor while galvanizing the progressive spirit of the democratic socialist’s home base supporters.

“I thought I heard a little voice over there”, Trump said, seemingly encouraging the rowdy crowd. That included undecided voters and those simply looking to learn about Trump’s positions. Trump is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. “You know it’s about 10 degrees below zero outside”, he called from the stage. “And he knows how to run a business”, said Jim Billado, who owns a commercial roofing business. “Everybody said it”, said Trump.

Inside, the scene was often rowdy, with the crowd cheering wildly when Trump repeated his vow to build a wall on the border with Mexico.

Republican front-runner Donald Trump is continuing his campaign, targeting cities which were believe to be voting for Democratic candidates.

Justin Griffith, 20, a college student, said that he was turned away from the rally despite having a ticket.

Vermont may be Bernie Sanders country, but Donald Trump found plenty of support – and some vocal opposition – from a rowdy and raucous crowd during his first campaign visit to the Green Mountain State.

Much to the dismay of city officials and the police, the Trump campaign handed out 20,000 tickets for the rally at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, seating capacity: 1,400. Metal barricades kept them at bay from those lined up to enter the rally, but the two sides traded chants and insults across the closed-down street.

Hours before the rally started, protesters gathered in downtown Burlington to show their dislike for the candidate.

“The first night when I had these characters, I said I don’t want anybody to get hurt”, he said, adding that he has since learned another approach.

Some who made it through security told NBC News they were asked if they were Trump supporters. The Vermont Republican Party released a statement last week that read, “The Vermont Republican Party did not invite Mr. Trump and has no role in his event”.

“We need our guns”, Trump said – a stark juxtaposition while the president defended his recent executive order to try to curb gun deaths and strengthen existing background check programs, among other things.

They will not support a candidate who thinks climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese.

We appreciate it when readers and people quoted in articles or blog posts point out errors of fact or emphasis and will investigate all assertions. “We are going to make America great again”. Its all one-sided.” Billado said hes not sure who he will support if Trump does not secure the Republican nomination. “There’s a momentum that we have”, he said, just as one protester shouted out a barely heard obscenity at him.