Donald Trump opened his rally in Costa Mesa, California, on Thursday night by standing side by side with families who lost loved ones at the hands of illegal aliens.

But while Trump was offering his solidarity with those who know all too well the true costs of illegal immigration, anti-Trump protesters dedicated to opening the borders even further were gathering outside to cause trouble.

“They’re unbelievable, they’ve suffered,” Trump said of the victims’ families before bringing them onstage. “These are great people,” he said.

The families were part of the Remembrance Project, a group created to draw attention to the tens of thousands of innocent, law-abiding Americans who have been killed by Mexicans and other Hispanics who have flooded into the country illegally.

“We demand Americans first,” said Jamiel Shaw, whose son was murdered by an illegal alien in 2008. “We don’t care about illegal aliens. Americans first. First means first.”

“They all have a very similar story to tell,” Trump said. “People that shouldn’t have been here, people that should have never been allowed to come over the border and they come here like it’s nothing — they walk through it like it’s nothing. We’re going to stop it and we’re going to build a wall.”

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Trump’s gesture was a brave and compassionate move, in stark contrast to the vicious and violent anti-Trump protests that erupted outside of the rally. What began as a relatively peaceful protest descended into anarchy once the rally ended and Trump supporters began to leave, as several hundred Mexican-flag-waving protesters began to block traffic.

One protester jumped atop a police car, denting the roof and smashing its front and rear windows, while other protesters sprayed graffiti on police cars and the venue itself. At least one Trump protester was assaulted trying to leave the venue. In all, nearly 20 people were arrested Thursday night after protesters ran wild, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said early Friday morning.

The protesters were there in opposition to Trump’s allegedly racist comments, one protester told the Los Angeles Times. “This is the anger people have against Trump,” said protester Jose Cruz. “It’s not because he’s white, it’s because of what he’s said.”

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“No Hate, No Racism, No Trump” read one protester’s sign, while another urged people to “Build love, not walls of hate.” Without a hint of irony, one poster even depicted a crudely-drawn Trump with a Hitler mustache, its author apparently unaware that the Nazis rose to power in part by breaking up peaceful, democratic rallies with violent “protests.”

But if Trump really does stand for racist hate, the diverse crowd of supporters who assembled to hear him speak was clearly unaware of the fact. Indeed, the crowd displayed a sea of signs showcasing that diversity. “Gays for Trump,” read one, while multiple signs declaring “Latinos for Trump,” were carried throughout the crowd. Another read “Black Christian Women for Trump.”

“It’s obvious that America loves Trump,” said Ly Kou, an immigrant from Laos. “This thing about him being racist? Look around the crowd.”

Trump’s opponents may do their best to paint him as an aggressive ethno-nationalist — if not outright racist — who instigates violence and threatens American democracy. But the only ones at Trump’s Costa Mesa rally threatening democracy and instigating violence — and displaying aggressively ethno-nationalist tendencies, for that matter — were those in the crowd of Mexican-flag-waving protesters.

“Make AmeriKKKa Mexico Again,” read one protester’s sign.