A protester was struck in the crotch with a tear gas canister outside the Phoenix Convention Center Tuesday night after refusing to comply with police orders to vacate the area.
Phoenix Trump Protester Ignores Police Orders, Gets Shot By Pepper Ball Before Being Escorted Away By Personpic.twitter.com/gFKq1Yxqnr
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 23, 2017
The man was one of hundreds of protesters who gathered, some as early as 3 p.m., outside the Phoenix Convention Center in anticipation of President Donald Trump’s 90-minute campaign style speech. The number of protesters increased as the afternoon wore on, reaching a climax following the speech.
What was initially a peaceful protest erupted into chaos after the speech when protesters began hurling projectiles at the police. The police responded by clearing the streets using tear gas and rubber bullets.
“People in the crowd began fighting and throwing rocks and bottles at police,” Sgt. Jonathan Howard, of the Phoenix Police Department, said in a statement to CNN. “They also dispersed some gas in the area. Police have responded with pepper balls and oc (pepper) spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd and stop the assaults.”
Watch an upgraded version of the video below:
WATCH: I upgraded the video of the protester getting hit in the balls with a tear gas canister… with Celine Dion. #PhoenixRally pic.twitter.com/zVeHfUQz9C
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) August 23, 2017
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