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Donald Trump forced to scrap key Texas rallies after cities demur citing violence Donald Trump forced to scrap key Texas rallies after cities demur citing violence
(about 1 hour later)
The Trump campaign appears to have abandoned plans for a brace of rallies in north Texas after two municipalities refused to offer suitable venues citing overcrowding and security fears. The Trump campaign appears to have abandoned plans for a brace of rallies in north Texas after two municipalities refused to offer suitable venues citing overcrowding and security fears. 
It is an embarrassing set-back for the candidate who doesn’t like to lose a negotiation. However, it appears to have been created in part by the chaotic nature of his campaign. One of the two cities involved said it had been given only 48 hours notice to agree to a rally and it wasn’t enough.It is an embarrassing set-back for the candidate who doesn’t like to lose a negotiation. However, it appears to have been created in part by the chaotic nature of his campaign. One of the two cities involved said it had been given only 48 hours notice to agree to a rally and it wasn’t enough.
Several attempts to contact Mr Trump’s aides for an explanation had gone unanswered on Wednesday. On Monday the campaign sent out an advisory email to reporters listing rallies in Dallas on Thursday and Houston on Friday as “upcoming events” to “look out for”. Several attempts to contact Mr Trump’s aides for an explanation went unanswered on Wednesday. On Monday, the campaign sent out an advisory email to reporters listing rallies in Dallas on Thursday and Houston on Friday as “upcoming events” to “look out for”.
Early on Wednesday another email appeared in reporters’ inboxes. Texas, a key state for both parties in the run-up to November’s election, had abruptly vanished.Early on Wednesday another email appeared in reporters’ inboxes. Texas, a key state for both parties in the run-up to November’s election, had abruptly vanished.
It remains possible that the Trump circus is allowing confusion to linger over the appearances because of threats from several groups in the Lone Star State - notably Hispanic grassroots organisations - to greet him with loud and and angry protests.   It remains possible that the Trump circus is allowing confusion to linger over the appearances because of threats from several groups in the Lone Star State – notably Hispanic grassroots organisations – to greet him with loud and and angry protests.  
But barring a last-minute unveiling of a suitable venue - and time may already have run out - Mr Trump will find himself with a conspicuous two-day hole in his itinerary in a week that has emerged as critical to the futures of himself and also Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.  But barring a last-minute unveiling of a suitable venue – and time may already have run out – Mr Trump will find himself with a conspicuous two-day hole in his itinerary in a week that has emerged as critical to the futures of himself and also Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton. 
“It’s very unusual that the Republican candidate for president in this deep red state would be having trouble finding a venue for his rallies,” Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas told the local CBS station.“It’s very unusual that the Republican candidate for president in this deep red state would be having trouble finding a venue for his rallies,” Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas told the local CBS station.
The first to turn him down, according to the Dallas Morning News, was Grand Prairie, just west of Dallas, where the Trump advance team had identified the Verizon Theatre, which can accommodate about 7,000 people. But local police told the campaign it was not practical, not least because of other events scheduled in the area also for Thursday evening. The first to turn him down, according to the Dallas Morning News, was Grand Prairie, just west of Dallas, where the Trump advance team had identified the Verizon Theatre, which can accommodate about 7,000 people. But local police told the campaign it was not practical, not least because of other events scheduled in the area also for Thursday evening. 
Then the city of Irving next door also made clear that it was not interested in offering an alternative site because the campaign had approached it too late. They also cited the special security considerations that a Trump rally would raise, a clear reference to other appearances by the candidate that have spawned confrontations between Trump fans and protestors and police. Then the next-door city of Irving also made clear that it was not interested in offering an alternative site because the campaign had approached it too late. They also cited the special security considerations that a Trump rally would raise, a clear reference to other appearances by the candidate that have spawned confrontations between Trump fans and protestors and police.
“In consultation with the Irving Police Department, the city of Irving decided it was not given sufficient time – given a 48 hour notice – to gather the resources necessary to ensure the safety and security of those attending such a large-scale, high-profile event,” the city said in a statement.“In consultation with the Irving Police Department, the city of Irving decided it was not given sufficient time – given a 48 hour notice – to gather the resources necessary to ensure the safety and security of those attending such a large-scale, high-profile event,” the city said in a statement.
There were indications that several Hispanic protest groups were gearing up quickly to give Mr Trump as noisy a welcome to Texas as possible. Passions are running especially deep after the Orlando gay club massacre where victims were overwhelmingly Hispanic. There were indications that several Hispanic protest groups were gearing up to give Mr Trump as noisy a welcome to Texas as possible. Passions are running especially deep after the Orlando gay club massacre where victims were overwhelmingly Hispanic.
Domingo Garcia, one organiser, told ABC News, he was still ready should Mr Trump come after all. “We are going to be peaceful; we are going to be nonviolent.  We are going to be dressed in white for peace. We are going to be carrying American flags for American values and we are going to be standing up to the bully.” Domingo Garcia, one organiser, told ABC News, he was still ready should Mr Trump come after all. “We are going to be peaceful; we are going to be nonviolent. We are going to be dressed in white for peace. We are going to be carrying American flags for American values and we are going to be standing up to the bully.”
It was precisely the promise of protests like the one he had been planning that has made securing a venue so difficult, Mr Garcia added. “We’ve understood they’ve had a lot of problems getting a venue and getting a police department or law enforcement that can number deal with the types of things that happen at Trump rallies,“ he said.It was precisely the promise of protests like the one he had been planning that has made securing a venue so difficult, Mr Garcia added. “We’ve understood they’ve had a lot of problems getting a venue and getting a police department or law enforcement that can number deal with the types of things that happen at Trump rallies,“ he said.