San Jose mayor commends police work at Trump rally after violent protest

SAN JOSE (BCN)— San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo praised the work of police working at a Donald Trump rally held Thursday evening at the San Jose Convention Center, despite violence between protesters and Trump supporters.
   
Business mogul Donald Trump, the presumed Republican nominee for president, was expected to draw between 12,000 and 15,000 supporters to his San Jose rally. Just as at other Trump rallies nationwide, his appearance Thursday night drew large protests.
   
A number of videos posted on social media showed violence outside the rally as protesters clashed with Trump supporters.
   
Police said Thursday night that an officer was assaulted and "a few arrests" were made but have not elaborated on the condition of the officer or said what the arrests were for. No significant property damage was reported.
   
Liccardo praised the work of the officers in a statement this morning, saying, "San Jose police officers performed admirably and professionally to contain acts of violence and protect individual's right to assemble, protest and express their political views."
   
A supporter of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Liccardo criticized the confrontational approach Trump has taken in his politics.
   
"While it's a sad statement about our political discourse that Mr. Trump has focused on stirring antagonism instead of offering real solutions to our nation's challenges, there is absolutely no place for violence against people who are simply exercising their rights to participate in the political process."
   
In social media posts, Trump characterized the protesters at the San Jose rally as "thugs" and "criminals."
   
In a Twitter post at 5:43 a.m. Trump said the San Jose rally was "great."
   
"Tremendous love and enthusiasm in the hall. Big crowd. Outside, a small group of thugs burned (American) flag," Trump wrote.
   
Trump said at 6:30 a.m. on Facebook, "Thank you for the incredible amount of support last night - San Jose, California. I love you all -- we will deal with the thugs & criminals -- we will build the wall -- and Mexico will pay for it!"
   
Trump was last in the Bay Area in late April to speak at the California Republican Convention in Burlingame.
   
Protesters blocked the hotel where Trump spoke and the candidate had to traverse a ditch and enter the hotel through a back door. Five arrests and a minor injury were reported during the protest at the convention.