Tensions rise at Trump protest outside campaign stop

With less than three months to go until Election Day, Donald Trump made his first visit of the campaign to Minnesota. He attended a fundraiser in Minneapolis Friday night, which drew lots of supporters and protesters.

Protesters arrived hours before Trump at the Minneapolis Convention Center, a crew drawn together by opposition to the Republican presidential candidate.

“I think there are a lot of us,” said Penelope Mace, a Trump protester. “Whether you're a person of color, you're an immigrant, which I'm the child of an immigrant, my mother was an immigrant, whether you're a woman.”

Others used the event as a chance to rally so-called “Never Trumpers” to Independent candidate Evan McMullin.

“You just take a look at some of the negatives each of the candidates have, I think it's no surprise people are concerned about both options that they have right now,” said Mark Cardenas with the Independence Party of Minnesota.

But those against Trump were not alone. Trump supporters also stood outside the convention center.

“I'm glad Trump is finally making a presence known in Minnesota,” said Kevin Kinzti, a Trump supporter. “Everybody has the right to protest, even if they don't know what they're really protesting. They're just not aware of what this country has at stake in this election.”

The hours leading to Trump's appearance weren't without tensions. One man, who claimed to be a Trump supporter, barreled his way through the crowd. Later a protester burned a Trump shirt.

As attendees arrived, protesters tried to meet them at every entrance. Minneapolis Police say due to the confrontations, officers had to escort the attendees in and out of the venue.

Police say no one was arrested and there were no reported injuries, but there was minor graffiti damage to the exterior of the Convention Center.

But supporters, like former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, are firmly behind Trump.

“He's a very common sense guy, that's what I know about him,” said Bachmann. “He's not into political correctness. He's into very common sense living.”

Bachmann says she wouldn't be surprised if Trump returned to Minnesota before the end of the campaign.