Donald Trump's Bolingbrook Fundraiser Brings Out Supporters, Opponents

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Whether you love Donald Trump or hate him, there’s one thing for certain: The man can draw a crowd.

Several protesters gathered across from the Bolingbrook Golf Club Wednesday, many of whom held signs saying “No bigots,” “Trump equals hate” and “Love not hate.” A few yards away from them were a handful of Trump supporters, although their numbers were easily outweighed by the anti-Trump crowd.

Organized by Suburban Families Against Hate, the protest was to send a message that Trump is not welcome. The protest was in response to Trump’s fundraiser at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, where the minimum price for a ticket was $1,000.

"We will build a wall around Donald Trump and Mayor Claar’s hateful rhetoric," SFAH said in a news release sent out Wednesday morning, referring to Bolingbrook mayor Roger Claar.

“This is what Bolingbrook is all about,” said Marc Lovell, who’s been a resident since 1986. “There’s a melting pot of every race, creed and color out here in Bolingbrook. We don’t see race. We see right and wrong. What Donald Trump represents is wrong.”

Home care worker Tanya Moses said Trump doesn’t care about her or the seniors she cares for.

“I make $10.50 an hour for what is pretty tough work,” she said. “That I don’t believe that either Trump or (Gov. Bruce) Rauner could do or would do.”

Trump has a problem dealing with women and with people of color, Moses said, adding that he doesn’t value the work people like her do.

“I’ve had enough, and that’s why I’m so glad to be here with you to let Donald Trump know that Illinois' workers are fired up and can’t take it no more,” she said.

The crowd then broke into a chant of “Fired up! Can’t take it no more!”

Lockport resident CeCe DiSomma was one of the few Trump supporters at the protest. Despite that, she doesn’t hate Hillary Clinton. She just thinks Trump will do a better job.

“He wants to make America great again, and he knows it’s not as it is right now the way it should be,” she said.

Of Trump’s proposed policies, she’s in favor of securing the borders and helping the small businessman, she said.

“He’s also very pro-constitution,” DiSomma said.

Still, she can appreciate Clinton’s stamina and endurance through the election.

A handful of young Trump supporters was also at the protest, one of whom is Joliet resident Alexander Rodriguez.

What makes Trump so appealing, Rodriguez said, is that he’s an outsider, adding that Clinton has been in politics for too long.

“To me, he speaks for the common man. And you know, they’re both New York elites, they both have a lot of money, and I’m not ignorant to that, but Trump, to me, talks from his heart, and it’s appealing, it’s refreshing, it’s different,” Rodriguez said.

Plainfield resident Jessie Gutierrez supports Trump’s promises to rebuild the Veterans Administration and bring more jobs to America.

Photos by Scott Viau/Patch