Sources say over 23,000 people requested tickets to the event
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC-TV) -
Thousands are arriving for the Donald Trump rally in Rochester. Hours before the event begins and people are lining up along Scottsville Road. Vendors are also lined up across from the event, selling Trump merchandise, including buttons, t-shirts, and hats.
A number of protestors are also arriving at the event. Gates Police issued a warning on Saturday that protestors must refrain from violence, or police will have to step in.
As of 2:20, a long line of supporters was still lined up at the Rochester Tech Park, waiting to be shuttled to the main event site.
Political Activist Carl Paladino took to the stage at 2:30 to talk about why he supports Trump.
Pastor Mark Burns took the stage after Paladino. He rallied the crowd, getting them to chant "lying Ted" and booing at the "liberal media" in the room.
Trump supporters were turned away when the event reached capacity. They lined up outside of the event and exchanged chants back and forth with protesters across the street. Police are on scene outside monitoring the event and keeping the peace.
After taking the stage Donald Trump says "If I get elected, Rochester is going to boom again. The whole country is going to boom again." He added on that "the American Dream is dead, but I'm going to make it bigger and better than ever," receiving lots of applause and cheers.
Early on into the event a protester attempted to disrupt the rally. He was thrown out as the crowd booed at him.
Trump claimed to have millions of votes more than Ted Cruz, saying "it's a corrupt deal going on in this coutnry." He went on to say that RNC will have a big problem if they take the nomination from him because he is "up by million of votes and hundreds of delegates."
Trump also called out current leaders saying "How stupid are the leaders of this country? We're not letting them get away with it anymore." He say's "It takes guts to run for President."
After protesters were escorted out of the rally, Trump says "We've got ten thousand people, we turned away five or six thousand unfortunately...Our rallies are the safest rallies." Adds that "we're supposed to be protective of each other. There's tremendous love in this room."
"I was against going into Iraq...You can't get out without leaving some people behind," said Donald Trump, before adding that Iran is taking over Iraq and that we made it possible.
Trump says that "we need a great show of strength in New York" as he wraps up his speech. "9 days, you've got to go out and vote," he says before adding his famous "make America great again."
Follow Allison Warren @AllisonW_News and Jordan Guerrein @JGuerrein on Twitter throughout the day for updates from the event. Also be sure to catch the livestream at rochesterfirst.com/live. News 8 will have more coverage of the event during our 11:00 news tonight, as well.
