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Trump Makes Controversial Appearance On Long Island

 

Despite protests, presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke at a fundraiser for the Suffolk County Republican party in Patchogue.

The event ignited controversy because it was held just a few blocks away from the hate killing of an Ecuadorian immigrant, Marcelo Lucero, who was killed byseven teenagers who made sport of targeting Latinos. The fundraiser attracted some 600 demonstrators, both for and against Trump.

Down the block from the GOP fundraiser, community members came together to hold a vigil for Lucero.

Local officials and Latino advocates wanted the event moved because of what they call Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric. But during his speech, Trump avoided his more controversial language.

Some of Trump’s supporters, like Eric Peterson, believe that Lucero’s murder eight years ago is unrelated to the decision to have Trump’s fundraiser at the Emporium.

“I believe that as a free country we’re able to have the debate and campaigns wherever we want,” Peterson said.

Inside, Trump discussed Long Island’s manufacturing job losses and his plans to create better trade deals.

“What's more important to you, the wall or the trade deal,” Trump said. “We'll talk about trade."

Trump jabbed at local politicians for allowing the manufacturing jobs to leave the Island in the first place.

“I can’t believe you guys would allow that to happen,” Trump said. “What the hell? Are you getting soft? They’re getting soft on me. I don’t believe this.”

John Jay LaValle, the Suffolk County Republican chairman, who invited Trump to the event, said that Trump’s a New Yorker who speaks straight.

“You know we have the same problems that people have across this country, and we’re only 50 miles from the economic capital of the world. So imagine how bad people are hurting across this country,” LaValle said.

Hundreds of people came to Patchogue to protest trump and to show support for him. In his speech, Trump left out some of his more controversial statements on immigration.

Trump's appearance wasn’t as raucous as Village Mayor Paul Pontieri expected.

“This, today, it seems to be very calm,” Pontieri said. “It seems to be very much under control and it seems to be what it should be.”

Pontieri says the village worked with Suffolk County Police and the Secret Service to ensure violence did not break out. There were no arrests last night.

Trump Makes Controversial Appearance On Long Island

Protesters gather down the block from the Emporium in Patchogue, Long Island to protest Presidential Candidate Donald Trump's fundraiser inside the venue on Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Joe Ryder / WSHU
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WSHU
Protesters gather down the block from the Emporium in Patchogue, Long Island to protest Presidential Candidate Donald Trump's fundraiser inside the venue on Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Protesters gather down the block from the Emporium in Patchogue, Long Island to protest Presidential Candidate Donald Trump's fundraiser inside the venue on Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Joe Ryder / WSHU
/
WSHU
Protesters gather down the block from the Emporium in Patchogue, Long Island to protest Presidential Candidate Donald Trump's fundraiser inside the venue on Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Trump Makes Controversial Appearance On Long Island

A vigil for Marcelo Lucero was held down the block from the Emporium in Patchogue, Long Island on Thursday, April 14, 2016. Inside the Emporium, a fundraiser for Presidential Candidate Donald Trump was being held.
Joe Ryder / WSHU
/
WSHU
A vigil for Marcelo Lucero was held down the block from the Emporium in Patchogue, Long Island on Thursday, April 14, 2016. Inside the Emporium, a fundraiser for Presidential Candidate Donald Trump was being held.
Joanne Brodski, a resident of Dix Hills, New York and Donald Trump supporter, came to Patchogue to support Mr. Trump as he gave a speech at a fundraiser inside the Emporium on Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Joe Ryder / WSHU
/
WSHU
Joanne Brodski, a resident of Dix Hills, New York and Donald Trump supporter, came to Patchogue to support Mr. Trump as he gave a speech at a fundraiser inside the Emporium on Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Presidential Candidate Donald Trump addresses a crowd of supporters inside the Emporium in Patchogue, Long Island on Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Jessica Opatich / WSHU
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WSHU
Presidential Candidate Donald Trump addresses a crowd of supporters inside the Emporium in Patchogue, Long Island on Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Donald Trump supporters and protesters stand on opposite sides of West Main Street in Patchogue, Long Island on Thursday, April 14, 2016. The two groups exchanged chants and insults after Donald Trump's fundraiser inside the Emporium.
Joe Ryder / WSHU
/
WSHU
Donald Trump supporters and protesters stand on opposite sides of West Main Street in Patchogue, Long Island on Thursday, April 14, 2016. The two groups exchanged chants and insults after Donald Trump's fundraiser inside the Emporium.

Copyright 2016 WSHU

Charles is senior reporter focusing on special projects. He has won numerous awards including an IRE award, three SPJ Public Service Awards, a National Murrow, and he was a finalist for the Livingston Award for Young Journalists.
Jessica Opatich
Born and raised in Huntington, NY, JD has been WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief since March 2017. Before he joined WAMC, he reported for WSHU, an NPR affiliate that covers Connecticut and Long Island. JD has experience writing about healthcare and small businesses working with Long Island Business News weekly newspaper. He also hosted, produced and engineered award-winning programs at community radio station, WUSB Stony Brook. An avid fencer in his free time, JD holds a BA in Journalism and Sociology from Stony Brook University.
Julio Avila
Joe Ryder

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