Crime & Safety

Protesters Prepare For Possible Clash At New Jersey Donald Trump Rally

Protesters say they're ready for a possible clash at a Donald Trump rally in New Jersey that's scheduled for Thursday.

Protesters say they're ready for a possible clash at a Donald Trump rally in New Jersey that's scheduled for Thursday.

A Princeton public school teacher announced on Twitter that she's organizing a rally to protest the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's Thursday visit to Lawrenceville - prompting ridicule from some Trump supporters, one of whom reportedly threatened to wreck a protester's car.

Martha Friend, a Princeton school teacher, is organizing the protest for Central Park, across from the Lawrenceville National Guard Armory, where Trump's rally is supposed to begin at 7 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Friend also announced the protest in a post on Planet Princeton, prompting a long list of Trump supporters to hijack the comment thread on the post. One reportedly issued this threat: "If you park on my side street, don't expect your car to be in the same condition you leave it!"

The comment was reported by NJ News Commons, but it appears to have been taken down. Still, others have joined the fray, prompting some protesters to say they're preparing for a possible clash.

Find out what's happening in Lawrencevillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

One possible anti-Trump protester, who identified herself as heartofsahe, said she won't be violent and "I hope others won't be violent either, but I guess I can't guarantee how others will act."

"I have seen footage of violent protesters at both Trump rallies and democratic events, but it is my sincere hope tomorrow will not be violent on the part of our protesters," she wrote on Wednesday.

Lawrence Township police did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Trump supporters said they were upset that some people were afraid to go the rally because they feared for their safety.

"Very sad that we have people scared to express themselves politically. It makes me damn angry. How dare they hijack our political system this way, these intolerant bigots. Yes, they're bigots. Intolerant, prejudiced bigots, who cannot respect our different point of view," wrote Jill McGlennon McCracken.

A business owner and an Army veteran are also scheduled to speak at the protest starting at 4 p.m. on Eggert Crossing Road, with the message: “No Hate in the Garden State.”

Other groups that plan to join the protest include the New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Sierra Club, New Jersey ATU State Council and New Jersey Working Families Alliance.

Trump, meanwhile, will appear at the rally/fundraiser to help Gov. Chris Christie pay off his campaign debt. The event will be at the Lawrenceville National Guard Armory beginning at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m.

Christie was a presidential candidate until February, when he dropped out of the race following the New Hampshire Primary. Two weeks after he dropped out, Christie endorsed Trump for president. His campaign is over $200,000 in debt.

Primary Day in New Jersey is June 7.

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