SALT LAKE CITY—Protesters clashed with supporters of Donald Trump after he gave a speech in Utah on Friday, ending a day full of presidential candidate appearances that also saw Mitt Romney intensifying his criticism of the GOP front-runner.
Hundreds of people chanted “Dump Trump” and “Mr. Hate Out of Our State” as police in riot gear blocked the entrance to the Salt Lake City building, after protesters tried to rush the door and got into dozens of screaming matches with Trump supporters who didn’t make it into the venue.
One of the protesters, Ricky Wilkens, repeatedly got between arguing demonstrators and hugged or shook hands with those on the other side in an effort to diffuse tensions.
Ricky Wilkens, left, one of the leaders of the "Dump Trump" protest, speaks with a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside the Infinity Events Center in Salt Lake City, where Trump held a campaign rally, Friday, March 18, 2016. Wilkens repeatedly got between arguing demonstrators and hugged or shook hands with those on the other side in an effort to diffuse tensions. Benjamin Zack/Standard-Examiner via AP
