Police said the girl was peppered-sprayed in the crowd by a non-law enforcement person on Tuesday evening. Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters and supporters had gathered outside the Holiday Inn Express in southern Wisconsin, where Trump was holding his maiden rally in the state ahead of next Tuesday's primary in the state.
In video posted on social media of the tense scene, the young woman appears to be arguing with someone and appears to shove or punch at the person before the pepper spray was deployed. She appeared to be holding a sign that accuses Trump of supporting white supremacy, and is standing next to another young woman holding Black Lives Matter sign. Others in the crowd could be heard chanting, "All lives matter."
"A male in the crowd groped the 15-year-girl; when she pushed him away, another person in the (crowd) sprayed her," the police department said in a statement. "We are currently looking for two suspects, one for the assault and one for the pepper spray."
A day earlier, six protesters were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and trespass after refusing to leave the lobby of the Holiday Inn Express as part of another anti-Trump protest at the venue, police said, The USA Today reported.
Police said the protesters identified themselves as belonging to the group Showing Up for Racial Injustice. Members of the group had locked themselves together inside of PVC piping before occupying the lobby area. About 60 other protesters who had entered the lobby left the hotel at the request of police.
Trump has faced criticism from rivals that the tenor of his campaign has created an unsafe environment at his rallies.
Earlier this month, Trump abruptly canceled an event in Chicago out of safety concerns after hundreds of protesters filled the arena where he was scheduled to speak. In another incident this month, a 78-year-old man was charged with assault and disorderly conduct after he sucker-punched a protester during a rally in Fayetteville, N.C.