Protesters gathered outside Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's appearance at a fundraiser Thursday evening in Patchogue.

Trump took to the stage to speak at the fundraiser for the Suffolk Republican Committee at the Emporium theater.

Leading up to the event, immigrant advocates protested Trump's appearance at a spot just blocks away from the deadly attack on Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadorian who was stabbed to death by a group of white teens eight years ago.

Lucero's family, some immigrant advocates and Suffolk Majority Leader DuWayne Gregory criticized Suffolk Republican Committee chair John Jay LaValle. They say inviting Trump to a venue too close to the site opened up old wounds.

Lucero's brother, Joselo Lucero, says he was insulted by Trump's presence in the area. In an effort to mend relations in the community, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini met with him in private, saying police are there to serve Lucero and all other members of the community.

Lisa Tyson, of the Long Island Progressive Coalition, led an anti-Trump protest about a block away from the Emporium.

"We've heard some very significant dangerous policies to the Muslim community, to the immigrant community," Tyson says. "This idea of building a wall -- that's not a progressive policy to move this country forward."

Commissioner Sini says there was an elevated police presence surrounding the venue, including uniformed officers and K-9 units. Police say there were no incidents or arrests.

Railroad Avenue and other streets near the Emporium were shut down for the event.