Protesters march outside Trump Towers as convention begins

A few hours after the Republican National Convention briefly erupted intochaos Monday as rogue delegates sought to wrest the nomination from Donald Trump, about 100 protesters paradedoutsideone of his signature buildings in Manhattan.

Organized by LBGTQ activists and supporters, the protesters waited out a torrential rainstorm driven byby tropical storm speed wind gusts before taking to the sidewalkoutside the real estate mogul’s TrumpTower on 5th Avenue between 56th and 57thstreets.

Protestors chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go!” and, “You’re fired,” using the line Trump would use on his reality TV show, “The Apprentice,” to dismiss unworthy contestants.

Several carried signs accusingTrump and the GOP of being”puppets” of the National Rifle Association for his and the party’s opposition to gun control laws.

“Queer Nation and Gays Against Guns protested to exclaim our horror at the anti-LGBTQ and pro-gun planks that were adopted by the Republican National Committee,” said Scott Gorenstein, Queer Nation spokesperson. “We want to them to stop the hate and see gun control measures adopted so that the Orlando massacre never happens again.”

The national debate over guns has been on display at the convention, which is being held in Ohio, an open carry state.Gun rights proponents have insisted on bringing rifles and handguns to demonstrations in Cleveland despite pleas from police to leave them home in the wake of recent attacks on law enforcement officers.

Across the street from Trump’s building, protesters stood holding block-longrainbow banners that read, “Stop the Hate” and “Republican Hate Kills.”

The protestors later carried the rainbow banners along 5th Avenue towardColumbus Circle.