Thread: Protesters Storm Grand Hyatt Hotel In Midtown Ahead Of State’s Republican Committee

Protesters Storm Grand Hyatt Hotel In Midtown Ahead Of State’s Republican Committee Gala

April 14, 2016 7:15 PM

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Grand Hyatt in Midtown Manhattan Thursday to protest GOP front-runner Donald Trump at the New York State Republican Committee’s annual gala.

WCBS 880’s Rich Lamb reported some of those protesters made their way inside and up to the balcony level of the hotel, chanting and holding banners.

Lamb said the protesters suddenly burst into an elevator where the press were, describing it as “guerrilla action.” Lamb reported people in black ties were watching from the lobby with “looks of horror on their faces.”

Hotel security and the NYPD surrounded the protesters and were able to escort them out. As many as seven people were arrested, 1010 WINS reported.

All three Republican candidates will be speaking at the gala.

This comes as protests are being held over a Trump appearance at a GOP fundraiser that’s being held near the site of an immigrant’s murder in Patchogue.

Activists say Trump’s appearance opens old anti-immigrant wounds in light of his tough talk about building a wall on the Mexican border and other rhetoric and could undo the progress that’s been made in the Long Island community.

The gala to raise funds for Republican candidates across eastern Long Island is being held in a nightclub about 200 yards from where an Ecuadorean immigrant, Marcelo Lucero, was murdered by a gang of teens in a 2008 hate crime attack.

CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported Thursday that supporters are paying $150 to attend the fundraiser.

COMPLETE CAMPAIGN 2016 COVERAGE

This week at the site of the slaying a sign reads: “Hate is not welcome in Patchogue. Make America Love Again.”

“This is not a reality show, this is not a freaking game. These are real people, human beings with flesh and blood, and they do not deserve to be treated like animals,” Rev. Allan Ramirez said.

“Donald Trump has attacked women, Muslims, Mexicans, immigrants, pretty much anyone he can,” resident Dan Fingus. “His hateful message just fans the flames of bigotry that led to the violence that led to the death of Marcelo Lucero.”
Joselo Lucero, whose brother was killed in the 2008 attack, says Patchogue is the wrong place for Trump to visit. “My community has suffered so much discrimination.”

A vigil was held Thursday in Marcelo Lucero’s memory.

I came because I feel what Donald Trump is doing is promoting violence and hatred in this country,” Mika Kardasz, of Coram, said.

John Jay LaValle, chairman of the Suffolk County Republican Committee, said Thursday’s event was scheduled more than two months ago and he invited every Republican candidate. He said Trump, who was recently been endorsed by the county GOP, accepted only last week.

“While we offer the greatest empathy possible to the family of Marcelo Lucero,” LaValle said, “We can’t help but to be suspicious of the motives of those leading the charge to connect that vicious hate crime with Mr. Trump’s commitment to enforcement of immigration laws that have gone largely ignored by both parties for 30 years.”

Tom Wedell, an unemployed contractor , is excited for Trump’s appearance.

“He deserves four years of our time and our country to try to get it back on track. These other people have failed us,” Wedell said.

So far, there’s been no comment on the controversy from Trump, who caused a firestorm on the first day of his campaign when he labeled illegal immigrants from Mexico as rapists and criminals, and he has repeatedly promised to build a massive wall along the border.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini said there will be a strong police presence in and around the Trump campaign event.

“We will not tolerate any lawlessness,” Sini said.

“We expect that this will be a very orderly and peaceful event.”

The campaign event itself is only expected to attract about 1,000 people, but Sini said the department has prepared for “thousands” of anti-Trump demonstrators.

Several roads will be closed in Patchogue for the event, which comes a week after a large Trump rally in Bethpage.

Thursday morning, Railroad Avenue closed between Main Street and South Street and between Main Street and Sephton Street. South Street, Church Street, Sephton Street and Gerard Street will be closed as of 2 p.m.

The municipal parking lot on the west side of South Ocean Avenue in the rear of the Emporium as well as the Long Island Rail Road parking lot on Sephton Street are also closed.

Vehicles found parked in the restricted areas after the closures will be towed.

Trump’s Republican rivals were also campaigning in the state. Ohio Gov. John Kasich hosted a town hall in Jericho where he was asked about the high cost of living forcing younger voters to live with their parents.

“We have to have economic growth. It’s a thing that solves so many problems and we get economic growth if we don’t crush small business by putting stupid rules on them and we lower taxes and we have a reasonable plan to get the budget balanced,” Kasich said.

The Ohio governor was also asked what he would tell his children if they came out as gay.

“I would say, ‘I love you girls,’ end of it,” Kasich responded.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was campaigning in upstate New York, saying that despite all the mudslinging, he believes the Republican Party is coming together.

“We have to be united. We have to stand together if we’re going to win this nomination and we have to be united and stand together if we’re going to win the general and beat Hillary Clinton,” Cruz said.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/04/...ogue-protests/

I came because I feel what Donald Trump is doing is promoting violence and hatred in this country,” Mika Kardasz, of Coram, said.

No, he is promoting law enforcement and justice for our citizens.......

Their "Vigil" for 1 ecuadorian that was killed 8yrs ago but say nothing about the huge numbers of American citizens being killed & raped by their countrymen - here illegally too.

Tom Wedell, an unemployed contractor , is excited for Trump’s appearance.

“He deserves four years of our time and our country to try to get it back on track. These other people have failed us,” Wedell said.

It would be a blessing to have Trump for 4 years - he would straighten a lot of things out.

NYPD arrests anti-Trump protesters amid Republican gala

Published time: 14 Apr, 2016 22:21
Edited time: 15 Apr, 2016 02:32

© Rebecca Myles / Twitter
New Yorkers angry with Donald Trump have protested outside the Grand Hyatt hotel in midtown Manhattan, where he an attended annual Republican gala. The rally was joined by Fight for 15 activists, who decried Trump for his "too high" wages comment.

"It is time to stand on the shoulders of those who built our city, and come together as New Yorkers and say, 'Mr. Trump - you do not speak for us; you do not represent us and we will not let your bigotry, xenophobia, misogyny, racism and hatred go unanswered anymore,'"organizers said on their Facebook page.

The 4-star hotel is hosting a group of donors and political leaders as well as all three Republican presidential candidates at a fundraising dinner, with tickets costing $1,000.

Outside the hotel, activists and anti-Trump protesters started gathering at around 5:00pm EST, expressing the intention of “shutting it down.”

They brought signs and banners criticizing Trump's immigration policies as well as his comments on labor issues.

According to RT reporter Caleb Maupin, who has been at the scene from the start, the NYPD had put the area “almost on lockdown” as crowds continued to gather.

There have been concerns that the anti-Trump protest, which is set to last for the next few hours, could turn ugly, following the example of previous protests against the billionaire businessman in other states.

Maupin tweeted that a scuffle broke out outside the Grand Hyatt hotel, but it was put down and several arrests were made.

Another RT correspondent at the scene, Rebecca Myles, has also recorded the NYPD arresting anti-Trump protesters.

On April 12, a Trump rally was marred by a fight that broke out between his supporters and protesters at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York.

Trump himself has been sued by three Kentucky residents, who are accusing the Republican frontrunner of encouraging “harmful, physical violence” against protesters at a Louisville rally on March 1.

Some of the protesters moved inside Grand Central station chanting and singing.

Nearly a dozen protesters have reportedly made it into the hotel, but were pulled out of the front door and put into a police van. Several others were arrested outside the hotel, WCBS radio reported.

The NYPD has used a LRAD sound cannon to warn protesters against blocking traffic and spreading out on the streets of New York, which are actions that could lead to arrests and charges of disorderly conduct.

Later in the protest more arrests were reported, but the NYPD has not officially confirmed any of them. A rough estimate based on social media posts suggest that several dozen may have been detained.

The Millions March group in New York has claimed that law enforcement officials have been making “violent arrests”.

Nearby, over a dozen Trump supporters have gathered as part of a counterprotest.

There have also been several breakaway rallies, in support of both John Kasich and Ted Cruz.

According to a recent CBS News nationwide poll, Donald Trump is supported by 42 percent of Republican primary voters, compared to 29 percent who back Cruz, and 18 percent favoring Kasich. Since last month, the gap between Trump and Cruz has narrowed from 20 to 13 points.

https://www.rt.com/usa/339660-trump-...ers-nyc-wages/

Marcelo Lucero, was murdered by a gang of teens in a 2008 hate crime attack.
A hate crime when it happens to them..
What about all the American Citizens that have been murdered by illegals? It is ok if illegals murder citizens it is never called a hate crime. Funny how this word get thrown around when it is someone who is important to them. But our citizens are not important enough for any hate crime to be called a hate crime. I am not saying this is right that it happened. But this hate crime seems to be a one sided thing for everyone but citizens.