Protesters block main road to Trump rally
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump hold up a sign as they wait for a campaign rally, Saturday, March 19, 2016, in Fountain Hills, Ariz.
PHOENIX >> Protesters blocked a main highway leading into the Phoenix suburb Saturday where Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump was staging a campaign rally alongside Arizona’s contentious sheriff, Joe Arpaio.
For hours, the protesters — about two dozen in total — parked their cars in the middle of the road, unfurling banners reading “Dump Trump” and “Must Stop Trump,” and chanting “Trump is hate.” Traffic was backed up for miles, with drivers honking in fury.
The road was eventually cleared and protesters marched down the highway to the rally site, weaving between Trump supporters as the event got under way.
Trump and Arpaio have formed a political alliance in recent months, and the billionaire hopes Arizona can serve as a model on how he could win in November.
The tough-talking lawman won six straight elections as sheriff of Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix and nearly two-thirds of Arizona’s population. He forced jail inmates to wear pink underwear and live outside in tents during triple-digit heat. Arpaio launched dragnets to round up people in the country who were in the country illegally, and a judge ruled that his operations illegally targeted Latinos. Arpaio then launched an investigation that critics contend ended up targeting the judge.
In Fountain Hills, thousands gathered for the outdoor rally in the suburb where Arpaio lives. Officers with the sheriff’s department were posted throughout the park, on rooftops and on patrol. Officers wearing bulletproof vests stood alongside a Humvee with a gun turret on top.
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Trump supporters waved signs saying “Hillary for Prison” — referring to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton — and “Joe for VP,” a reference to Arpaio.
As Trump looks toward the general election, Arpaio and Arizona — the next major state to vote in the presidential nominating contest — show how conservative populists can thrive even in states with growing minority populations. Arizona votes Tuesday in a winner-take-all Republican primary as well as a Democratic race.
Earlier Saturday, about 50 protesters gathered outside the Phoenix Convention Center where Fox News host Sean Hannity was set to interview Trump. They held signs, played music and made speeches, calling Trump “despicable” and “a fascist.” One of them, Salvador Reza , said: “He’s working to create division.”
Trump supporters trickled through protesters and security to attend — many wearing red, white and blue.
Jason Kitson, 41, from Phoenix, said Trump’s hardline stance on immigration is what’s needed in Arizona to prevent cross-border drug and human smuggling.
Kitson said the wall Trump vows to building all along the Mexican border may or may not be realistic, but it “is getting people’s attention.”
56 responses to “Protesters block main road to Trump rally”
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May or may not? No, it’s just may not.
democrats and leeches are in fear – time of freeloading off the taxpayer is coming to an end. Benghazi cover up and illegal cover ups by the existing democrat regime is being threatened.
Freedom of speech and civil disobedience in action! It’s amusing that Mr. Trump (and a lot of his supporters) think that only he is entitled to speak. A lot of folks don’t like what he’s saying, and they can speak too.
Are they running for office?
It’s every Americans right to protest… it is not right to disrupt and prevent someone from speaking. You can stand outside and wave signs and chant and sing or whatever. You do not have the right to come inside with the express purpose of stopping someone from speaking… that is not “protesting”. Funny how it’s only the left-wing democrats who want to prevent people that disagree with them from speaking isn’t it.
Well, of course you’re lying about left wing Democrats being the only voices here – no surprise there, coming from you. And you are simply wrong in fact and law about people not having the right to stop speech. Protestors are now coming from inside the Republican Party, because they understand that Trump is driving them off a cliff.. People can use any lawful method to stop speech they consider wrong. No one has the right to speech that is unmolested by private citizens. Not even Trump. The party is facing a loss of historic proportions, and people are trying to figure out a way to prevent that. The Republicans created Trump
Well the republican party may be facing a huge loss but that would probably be the case with whoever they nominate. It would be funny as hell if they end up picking big Ted, and then the supreme court rules against him qualifying.
I wonder if Ted will ever release a document showing he is an American citizen? This is so much fun to give republicans some of their own medicine. The only difference is that Obama clearly is an American citizen qualified to be president while Big Ted is not.
Things are looking worse for him every day. Canadian lawyers are now saying that on the date Mr. Cruz was born in Canada, his mother was a registered voter in Canada. At that time, that meant that she would have been required to earlier renounce her American citizenship. Not so good for Ted. There will not be a challenge to his eligibility from Democrats of course, until after he receives the nomination. That would be the best time to put the file the suit and present the accumulated evidence.
The only reason it’s fine for Ted and not for Obama comes down to the fact that the President’s skin is darker. What a bunch of hypocrites we Americans can be.
The Dems did not stop the scourge of drugs on our youth so maybe it’s time to give the other party a chance. Mexico is not the only place drugs are being smuggled into Hawaii from.
You’re right, there’s also the Philippines. And I heard Drumpf is gonna propose building a wall around them and making Bongbong pay for it.
lol, but the republicans largely started it with Nixon’s war on drugs. What a failure that turned out to be. Democrats should have just legalized it but that failure is far better than the republican assault on personal freedom.
These aren’t lawful means!
Then they risk arrest. That’s what civil disobedience is. The history of that tactic is that it prompts change for the better.
You’re correct. I tried to find instances where Trump supporters had attempted to shut down any of Clinton’s get togethers, and was unsuccessful. These protesters didn’t hesitate to break the law, inconveniencing totally innocent commuters. Hopefully they were at least issued pricy traffic tickets. Had someone intentionally blocked the H1 during a morning rush to wave political signs, I wonder how their message would be received.
Mrs. Clinton is not calling for an illegal ban on Muslims entering the country, a wall at the border with Mexico or the deportation of millions of people. I know this seems to be a very hard concept for you, but ridiculous hate speech can stir the pot.
I’m rather confused, (he said sarcastically), but what exactly does a wall or deportation have to do with these actions? Surely you can’t be implying that their breaking the law was ok because it was targeting Trump? It’s really not that tough of a concept, so I’m surprised you’re having trouble catching it..
hawaiikone – Not surprised that you’re confused. I’m sorry that you cannot follow things. Hate speech (aka Trump speech) causes good people to rise up and react, because the silence of good people is what permits bad people to assume power. We learned that from Senator Joseph McCarthy and others. People who participate in civil disobedience subject themselves to the punishment of the law to bring attention to something they believe needs that attention. To them, the benefit is worth the cost. I’m saying it’s OK for people to participate in acts of civil disobedience in protesting a malignant, fundamentally evil demagogue, providing that they are willing to accept the consequences of their actions. Is that clear enough for you? If not, I give up.
Oh, I’m not confused in the least. And I certainly can understand your giving up. To be clear, you support breaking the law to deny a leading presidential candidate the opportunity to speak to his supporters simply because you disagree with his message. I think we’ve heard all we really need to, thank you..
hawaiikone – You’re lying again. I don’t support anything of the sort and have not used that word or language. You lie to support your cases all the time and pretend that writers have used words they have not used. Civil disobedience has a purpose and a cost. If people are willing go to down that road, as an attorney, I’m OK with it. I choose my words carefully.
No. You’re lying. You condone “civil disobedience”, aka “breaking the law”. The SA has no “edit” function, so let your words be your judge. The problem with extreme positions on either side, as you’ve evidenced, is the temptation to try and justify illegal actions. Were this some sign wavers fronting a downtown fountain without an assembly permit, that’s one thing. Although still illegal, it doesn’t compare to stopping thousands of motorists on a major freeway, a dangerous, provocative, and unnecessary inference with the rights of others. As “retire”says below, I may not agree with his speech, but I’m willing to fight for his right to say it.
hawaiikone – There you go again. You have invented the fact that I condoned anything. You simply cannot stop lying.
“I’m saying it’s OK for people to participate in acts of civil disobedience in protesting a malignant, fundamentally evil demagogue, providing that they are willing to accept the consequences of their actions”.
During an interview on Bloomberg TV, Faber said that the U.S. would not be a sound, well-run economy like Singapore “unless of course the U.S. is run by Mr. Trump, then the U.S. will improve.”
And, there’s video of Trump saying the economy is better under a Democrat President. http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/21/politics/donald-trump-election-democrat/ “In many cases, I probably identify more as Democrat,” Trump told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in a 2004 interview. “It just seems that the economy does better under the Democrats than the Republicans. Now, it shouldn’t be that way. But if you go back, I mean it just seems that the economy does better under the Democrats. …But certainly we had some very good economies under Democrats, as well as Republicans. But we’ve had some pretty bad disaster under the Republicans.”
hiliar’s democrat brown shirts in action. the epitome of liberal socialist tolerance: a disruptive potentially violent confrontation spewing shouted venom and hate speech while law abiding people gather to hear and participate in a peaceful campaign event.
I wonder if anyone keeps track of how often you use the “hiliar’s (SIC) brown shirt” phrase every day. I suppose cutting and pasting the same thing on every post, even with the very peculiar spelling error, saves you the time of looking up new words? “I love the poorly educated!” Go Trump!
you have already been exposed as poser rather than poster.
Your opinions mean absolutely nothing. Zero.
hi liar
klastri, your obsession with your intellectual flatulence is exceeded only by your moral bankruptcy. as such, even though you obviously regard my comments highly enough to respond immediately, i will no longer respond to your juvenile attempts at trolling and bullying others.
st1d – So much for your false support of free speech.
So far, I haven’t heard of any Trump supporters stopping anti-Trump rallies outside Trump rally venues. Only inside Trump get-togethers. Blocking public access to Trump rallies are not legal activity and should be stopped by law enforcement agencies. I don’t particularly care for Trump’s rhetoric and and style, a lot of people do. Anti-Trump Republicans and Democrats should not be disrupting his rallies. You will hear them scream if anyone tried to disrupt their get-togethers. Especially the blacks who appear to be the most prominent ant-Trump disruptors. Enough out of bounds Anti-Trump activities may change me to vote for Trump, just to spite the disruptive Anti-Trump factions.
Exactly. What reason better than spite could there be to form a decision for President? That shows sheer brilliance! I can see with that type of thinking, that you’re definitely a Trump supporter. “I love the poorly educated!” Go Trump!
As you can see, Mililanigal, those voices crying the loudest in condemnation of Trump and his supporters are the very gang willing to ignore the law in order to silence Him. Certainly not an original concept, and one designed solely to crush any opposition. Perhaps Trump’s admirers are indeed a despicable bunch of louts, as routinely portrayed here, but, unlike their detractors, they at least seem to be at a law abiding bunch..
Law abiding as in beating people up and sucker punching people being walked out of an arena? Brilliant observation!
That is exactly why I used the term “bunch”. One provoked exception out of millions is not a bad track record. My words are chosen carefully as well…
I don’t really agree with what any of them have to say, liberals conservatives, or protesters for either side, but I will defend to the death their right to say it.
I’m not sure about everyone else but personally, I will be happy when the electoral circus folds its tents and slinks away for four years and we all can get back to complaining about other things.
I could not agree more…
Agree Cd, but unfortunately it’s only going away for two at most.
Arpaio’s played out his string. He’s goin’ down for contempt of court, and he’s gonna lose if he tries to get reelected. A perfect choice for the hollow-man Drumpf.
Just arrest the protestors and impound their cars.
Thank you, Comment Police. It’s important to the adults posting here that you decide for them what point is valid or not.
Thirty nine.
Just when you think that this 3 ring circus that comes to town every 4 years could out do itself, BOOM. Now a reality show billionaire is running? Next cycle we will see an ex porn star?
These “Brainiac” protester have NO Clue what they’re protesting about!Claiming Donald is a Racist! Yeah Right! I heard all of his speeches and I simply don’t get the Racist thing!! The Only Racism that exist,is only in Bernie’s and Hillary’s spporters. The Far Left! It’s in their MIND! Talk about Uninformed!! Yes Uninformed to the to the Max!!
Most of the protesters try to Spin….no wait!For a better word Agitators ,try to spin some thing that is not true,who feeds them this stuff? Ultimately….they are Lying to only themselves!And denying the rest of us our freedom of speech…..Let’s see if the Hillary and Bernie camp denounce the BAD behavior of their supporters and start acting ….like adults! DON”T HOLD YOUR BREATH!
Lastly ,These protester will fizzle away,because if any of these Anarchist/ Agitators were paying any attention? They should know by now ,that,this will further create a “Reverse Effect” and thus, only strengthen Donald Trump Campaign…
Racists can never hear racism in the speech of others. “I love the poorly educated!” Go Trump!
Klastri a Trump supporter?Who would have thought??Welcome to the Real world! Go Trump!
Hillary for Prison 2017
So……when will Trump fly his jumbo jet to Honolulu…….will we see him in the flesh?
Why would Trump waste time visiting a long lost cause? Oh, and Trump One happens to be a refurbished Boeing 757, not a wide-body jet.
Democrats always try and say that protesting. { These people in this article are not protesting, many are paid Antagonist ] is their right. How many articles do you read of Hillary or Bernie’s Rally’s protester’s getting out of hand ? Answer: Little to None. The Democrat’s control ALL the Media and as of late , All Social media. They always try to say they are the tolerant ones, helping the lower class and are for the little guy. Horsepuckey ! ! They are the Biggest bunch of Hypocrites in the whole world. This Country is teetering on ruin with Democrat’s at he helm. Trump may have his flaws, but at least he Loves this Country and believes in American Exceptionalism. Not Socialism.
Wow, this one really had babies.
Have any of the Trump supporters protested & disrupted traffic, etc. during any of the other presidential candidates campaign rallies?
Just asking, only seeing the Trump rallies being disrupted in the news.
The Anarchist Agitator libs will never admit this!They are the main guys dirupting the GOP/Donald Trump Rallies…. These are Hillary and Bernie’s dysfunctional recruits
This is not a 2 way street anymore. For the past 7 years and w/ my pen and a phone it’s been my way or the Highway! & now today? it still is my WAY …..The Democrats Way!