Violence erupts at pro-Trump rally
> President vows ‘great’ plan to replace Obamacare
WASHINGTON: Violence broke out at a pro-Donald Trump rally in California on Saturday when a masked man peppersprayed the female organiser before demonstrators tackled him to the ground.
Video posted on Facebook from the fracas at Bolsa Chica State Beach, near Los Angeles, shows a man punching the assailant before being pulled away as the masked man runs off.
“It was a quick reaction, there were 12 of them,” organiser Jennifer Sterling told the Los Angeles Times of her defenders.
Some 2,000 people gathered for the beachfront march were confronted by around 30 counter-protesters, according to local law enforcement.
Thirty-five police and 11 California Highway Patrol officers were standing by and moved in to quell the violence, State Parks Police captain Kevin Pearsall said.
Two people suffered minor abrasions and four people were arrested, he said – three on suspicion of the felony offence of illegal pepper spray use and a woman for misdemeanour assault and battery.
“It was unfortunate there were some incidents,” Pearsall said, adding the situation could have been worse “considering the number of people and the amount of social media coverage”.
The rally, one of dozens planned nationwide, was intended as a show of support for Trump and veterans.
Meanwhile, Trump on Saturday declared that Obamacare will fall apart and vowed to develop a “great” new health care plan for Americans to take its place.
“Obamacare will explode and we will all get together and piece together a great healthcare plan for THE PEOPLE. Do not worry!” the president said on Twitter.
The message came one day after he suffered the biggest defeat yet in his short White House tenure, when his bill to repeal Obamacare died at the hands of rebel lawmakers of his own Republican party.
Trump and House speaker Paul Ryan were forced to withdraw the legislation moments before a vote, having failed to round up enough support for passage – leaving the president’s campaign pledge to dismantle his predecessor’s health care reforms unfulfilled.
Trump – who built his candidacy on his bona fides as a skilled negotiator – had thrown his full political weight behind the measure and helped twist the arms of recalcitrant Republicans to rally votes.
He declared himself “disappointed” and a “little surprised” by the defeat of the bill, which in addition to opposition by several factions of Republicans was totally shunned by Democrats. – AFP