300 protest outside Trump speech in Colorado Springs

Authorities got what they wanted from Friday’s visit by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump: none of the violence between supporters and opponents that marked past protests.

An estimated 300 people protested on the lawn of Cragmor Green before and during Trump’s town hall on the campus of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.

They held signs, as well as chanted and shouted opposition to the controversial candidate who has upset many voters with his comments about women, minorities, immigration and other topics.

Across a driveway from the protesters was a long line of people waiting to enter the town hall gathering. The hours of standing in hot weather helped raise tensions on both sides to the point that law enforcement officers stood between the groups to maintain order.

“There were some people shouting racial slurs at one point but that was about the worst of it,” said Crystal Cravens, who organized the protest. “I’m not telling people how to vote or who to vote for. But I want people to be mindful of the fact that his message is really dividing our country. His message does not represent the U.S. as a whole.”

Some of the protesters said opposing Trump doesn’t necessarily mean they support Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

“If people like me — who are usually passive — don’t turn out for things like this, minorities are just going to be walked over,” said Christine Meyer, a Trump opponent.

Gloria Jaeger, a Trump supporter, said the protesters aren’t entirely wrong in their opposition.

“They have some valid points,” she said. “Immigrants do make the world better. But there’s a way to enter our country. Do it legally.”

D’Angelo Burgin attended the protest to learn more about both candidates.

“I don’t know who I’d vote for if the election was today,” he said. “Things get blown out of proportion. I’d like to know if Trump really means some of the things he says.”

Jared Moya supports Trump and believes fellow supporters were offended by the protest.

“If we were to protest in front of their candidate, they wouldn’t like it,” he said. “They’re being a little hypocritical.”

Ronald Sholly, another Trump supporter, said criticizing the protesters was a waste of time.

“Stay neutral, hear what has to be said and weigh it out from there,” he said.

Several protesters, including organizer Cravens, said they would have preferred to support former candidate Bernie Sanders over Clinton for the Democratic nomination.

The protest officially was scheduled to last an hour but some participants began arriving at noon and didn’t leave until around 4:30 p.m.