The discussions taking place on the stage during The FAMiLY LEADER’s Presidential Family Forum held Friday evening in Des Moines could only be described as cordial. But, in the seats below, that wasn’t always the case throughout the evening.
Shortly after moderator Frank Luntz asked his first question of the seven Republican presidential candidates—ironically about the lack of civility in American politics today—two separate pockets of protesters rose up, one in the front of the auditorium, another in the back. The protesters chanted and waved banners.
The group Against All Borders was responsible for the first outburst, which included the waving of banners that read “Is Deportation a Family Value?” while shouting “Deportation is anti-family!” Luntz attempted to dispel the conflict by assuring the protesters that immigration would be addressed during the forum, but threatened to “take the issue off the table” if the protests continued.
When they erupted again a couple minutes later, they were escorted from the auditorium. True to his word, immigration was not brought up during the forum.
Later in the evening, a second group of protesters shouting about “animal rights” and “animal liberation” also attempted to disrupt the proceedings. Some of those in attendance tried to shout down the protesters with their own shouts of “U.S.A.!” until Luntz stepped in to quiet things down.
“I feel like this is being conducted in Berkeley, California,” Luntz quipped after the second set of outbursts.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was asked about the protests shortly after order was restored, said he wasn’t bothered by it.
“I realize that it’s a reminder that we live in the greatest country on earth, and we allow people to disagree with us,” he said. “Those people aren’t going to spend the night in jail. They’re not going to be shot out there on the sidewalk.”
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