Scuffles break out in Chicago after Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump cancels a rally on a university campus.
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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump
has cancelled a rally in Chicago because of security concerns,
triggering scuffles between supporters and protesters. Violence broke out at the University of Illinois after an announcement was made that the rally would be postponed.
Footage posted on Twitter showed a police officer injured following more reported clashes at an intersection two blocks from the cancelled rally. Following the postponement, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter: "The organized group of people, many of them thugs, who shut down our First Amendment rights in Chicago, have totally energized America!"
University staff had petitioned administrators to cancel the rally, citing concerns about a "hostile and physically dangerous environment". A statement from Mr Trump's campaign said he met with law enforcement officials after arriving in Chicago.
The statement added: "For the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight's rally will be postponed to another date. "Thank you very much for your attendance and please go in peace."
Tensions began after hundreds of people gathered outside the arena in the hours before the event was scheduled to begin. Supporters of Mr Trump were separated from an equally large crowd of protesters by a heavy police presence and barricades.
Protester Jedidiah Brown, who stormed the stage, told Sky News that Trump supporters told him to "Go back to Africa". "I'm American I don't know other countries," he said.
"They spat on us, they threw bottles at me, it was a very troubling experience. We were peaceful. Even when I jumped on stage I was peaceful."
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