JANESVILLE -- Chanting "build communities, not walls" and other anti-Trump slogans, dozens of protesters staged a sit-in at a Janesville hotel a day ahead of a planned Donald Trump rally in the city.
Several protesters could be seen sitting in the center of the hotel's lobby, linking arms and chanting "no hate in our state." Others around them held signs and joined in when the group began singing songs.
Police officers were on hand observing the protesters at the hotel, and shortly after 7:00 p.m. asked many of them to voluntarily relocate to a designated protest area as the hotel "is a private business."
While many continued the protest outside at that time, the central group with linked arms chose to stay inside the hotel's lobby. Eventually, police cut through the PVC pipe over their arms and they were arrested.
telling those of us who have been booted to move further. #HostForHate #NoHateInOurState #StopTrump pic.twitter.com/Bw982pWM2o
— Ben H. (@rexsoleil) March 29, 2016
Trump, the Republican front runner, is scheduled to address supporters at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Milwaukee activist group Voces de la Frontera Action praised the protesters' action in a statement released Monday evening, arguing that people with a wide variety of backgrounds are opposed to the controversial candidate:
"Nonviolent direct actions like tonight's send the message that millions of people in this country of all races and ethnicities will not allow Trump's plans to come to pass," the statement read in part.
You can watch a live stream of the protest below as it happens, or watch on Ustream here.
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