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Trump Holds Rally On Long Island

Donald Trump was on Long Island Wednesday night to hold his first rally before New York State’s April 19th Primary.

The Republican frontrunner declared it's “great to be home” before an estimated 10-12,000 people who filled a movie sound stage at Grumman Studios. Trump shrugged off a defeat in Wisconsin a day earlier and instead, predicted victory in his delegate-rich home state.

In his speech Trump compared Syrian refugees coming to the U.S. to snakes. He read lyrics to a song by Al Wilson. The song starts with a woman who takes in an injured snake and nurses it back to health. The snake then bites and kills her.

“You damn well knew I was snake before you took me in,” Trump said. “Believe me folks, believe me, believe me.”

Trump has made this comparison before on the campaign trail. He has called for a ban on Muslims trying to enter the United States.

Hundreds of people protested outside the rally. Jay Blackman said he was protesting Trump because of his rhetoric.

“He breeds hate, and that's not what America stands for,” Blackman said. “We were just talking about his slogan being Trump wants to make America great again, and it sounds like Trump wants to make America hate again.”

As the venue reached capacity and Trump supporters were turned away, many congregated on the opposite side of the barricades that held anti-Trump protesters. BenMarriottiofMassapequa is a Trump supporter.

"We are due for a big change," Marriotti said. "I don't like the policies that are there. I think he can do it."

Trump told his supporters that not only is America not winning, it doesn’t even know how to fight anymore.

“We don’t fight like people from Long Island," Trump said. "We don’t fight like people from New York.”

Outside, hundreds of Trump supporters and protesters fought to see if they could drown each other out.

Dozens of police officers amassed outside the sound stage venue as protesters chanted "Your hats are made in China" and "Dump Trump."

Trump supporters retaliated, declaring "Socialism sucks!" and "Leave this country!"

Police say two people inside the rally were arrested for disorderly conduct.

This story contains information from the Associated Press

Trump Holds Rally On Long Island

A Donald Trump supporter sits on a friend's shoulders and waves an American flag on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, outside of Trump's Bethpage rally held at Grumman Studios. In the foreground are police officers from Nassau County Police's Mounted Unit.
Joe Ryder /
A Donald Trump supporter sits on a friend's shoulders and waves an American flag on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, outside of Trump's Bethpage rally held at Grumman Studios. In the foreground are police officers from Nassau County Police's Mounted Unit.
Frank Bigell and his daughter hold pro-Trump signs outside of Donald Trump's Bethpage rally on Wednesday, April 6, 2016.
Joe Ryder /
Frank Bigell and his daughter hold pro-Trump signs outside of Donald Trump's Bethpage rally on Wednesday, April 6, 2016.
Hundreds of protesters came out in opposition of Donald Trump's rally in Bethpage, New York on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. Protesters were kept in a pen designated the "free speech" area two blocks from the rally at Grumman Studios.
Joe Ryder /
Hundreds of protesters came out in opposition of Donald Trump's rally in Bethpage, New York on Wednesday, April 6, 2016. Protesters were kept in a pen designated the "free speech" area two blocks from the rally at Grumman Studios.

Copyright 2016 WSHU

A native Long Islander, J.D. is WSHU's afternoon news editor. Formally WAMC’s Berkshire bureau chief, he has reported for public radio stations, including bylines with WSHU, WNYC, WBUR, WNPR and NPR. J.D. has reported on healthcare and small businesses for "Long Island Business News" and real estate and land-use for The Press News Group newspapers. He also hosted, produced and engineered award-winning programs at WUSB Stony Brook. An avid fencer in his free time, J.D. holds a B.A. in journalism and sociology from Stony Brook University and an M.S. in communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.
Terry Sheridan is an award-winning radio journalist. As part of his duties as Long Island Bureau chief for WSHU, he oversees and mentors a newsroom staffed by students of the Stony Brook School of Journalism, where he is also a lecturer and adjunct professor.
Jessica Opatich
Joe Ryder

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