Slideshow: Scenes From Donald Trump's Visit to Burlington

Donald Trump Visits Burlington

Love him or hate him, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump draws a crowd, even in Sen. Bernie Sanders-loving Burlington. Hours before his Flynn Center show last Thursday, an estimated 3,000 fans and foes gathered on either side of police-patrolled Main Street. For one night only, the Queen City’s main artery was a political DMZ.

On the Flynn side of the street, people waited for hours to hear the chest-thumping showman who has shaken up the Republican Party — in a line that stretched along four and half city blocks. Taking a cue from their leader, many of them were unabashedly contrary in a left-leaning city known for its progressive policies. In 30-degree temps, they stood by their man in fur, fleece and flannel-lined Carhartts.

On the city hall side of the street, protesters inveighed against the Donald with targeted insults, clever signs — “Dump Trump,” “Boring Middle-Aged Parents Against Trump” and “Love Trumps Hate” — and earnest arguments against a wannabe president who would halt Muslim immigration and build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. They cheered heartily when security rejected and ejected audience members — either because they failed the pro-Trump test required for entry or successfully disrupted his speech inside the Flynn.

Burlington police were prepared for the worst but made no arrests related to the event — aside from two teenagers who wound up in detox, according to Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo. Were they drunk on Trump or sauced on Sanders? We’ll never know. Either way, Burlington’s night to remember is theirs to forget.

It’s not every day the city hosts a party for folks on opposite ends of the political spectrum — and it was 40 degrees warmer out than the minus-10 temp Trump alleged. Did people exchange sharp words on the street? Sure, and last we checked, name-calling still qualifies as free speech. In their own way, everyone who came out was exercising that fundamental American right.

One thing we can all agree on.

The original print version of this article was headlined “Trump Roast”