Protester: Ted Cruz 'Has No Business Being In The Bronx'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Things got a little bit ugly at a Ted Cruz meet-and-greet in the Soundview section of the Bronx on Wednesday.
As CBS2 Political Reporter Marcia Kramer reported, Cruz was made his Bronx appearance fresh off his Republican primary victory in Wisconsin. During his appearance, Cruz learned the true meaning of the phrase, "Bronx cheer."
"You got to be born in America to be president," one protester yelled. "Don't waste your time."
Protesters at the Sabrosura 2 restaurant, at 1808 Westchester Ave. in the Soundview section of the Bronx, seemed to be upset about Cruz's controversial immigration policy.
PHOTOS: Ted Cruz Campaigns In The Bronx
And the Cruz campaign seemed to be taking a page out of the Donald Trump playbook by removing two demonstrators.
A protester with the Latin hip-hop group "Rebel Diaz" interrupted the event while Cruz was addressing a crowd of supporters privately behind a curtain, WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini reported.
"Ted Cruz has no business being in the Bronx!" the protester said. He said the neighborhood where Trump was appearing is an immigrant community and also attacked Cruz's view on climate change.
He was escorted out by police.
Another protester echoed the same sentiments.
"If you are anti-immigrant, you are not welcome here. We are at the forefront of climate change here, Ted Cruz. We are at the forefront of climate change here," the man said. "People are dying. People are dying, Ted Cruz."
As that man was ejected, Cruz responded, "We need positive solutions, not the kind of anger that that man has."
But Cruz was not without his supporters.
"Why am I here today? Because I would like to do whatever possible to tip the scales so Cruz wins the New York primary," said Steve Axelman of Whitestone, Queens.
"I like Ted Cruz because he is a constitutional conservative, and he believes in the constitution, and that's how it should be," one woman said.
"He's a real Republican, and he speaks to our principles, and he's someone that won't embarrass the party," a man said.
Cruz is campaigning in New York along with GOP rivals Trump and John Kasich as ahead of the upcoming state primaries. Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have also made recent appearances in the city.