Donald Trump’s arrival to his Arizona rally was delayed on Saturday due to a swarm of protesters blocking traffic near the event. Marches were also staged in New York protesting the Republican front-runner.
Demonstrators stood at Shea Boulevard, a main artery into Forest Hills Park, and also used their vehicles to block traffic. Cars were backed up for miles, causing some motorists to drive into oncoming traffic. Many in the crowd stood with signs that read “Stand Against Racism” and chanted “Donald Trump, shut it down. Phoenix is a people’s town.”
Trump eventually made his way to the podium at Forest Park and took an unusually short 30 minutes to address his supporters about building a wall bordering Mexico, renegotiating trade deals, and voting for him on Tuesday in Arizona’s presidential primary.
“So much crime. Drugs pouring though the border. People are now seeing it. And you know what? We’re going to build the wall and we’re going to stop it. It’s going to end,” Trump said.
“Tuesday is so important. We have a movement going on,” he added. “Go out on Tuesday and vote. I will never let you down.”
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joaquin Enriquez told CNN that three protesters were arrested and two cars were towed near the demonstration site.
Trump brought out several political figures at the event, including Maricopa Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who has been openly supporting the presidential candidate since January. He spoke to CNN about the recent increase in protests at Trump rallies.
“We’ll do everything possible to make sure we have free speech in this country. Donald Trump has a right to speak out and the people have a right to go in there and hear him speak,” Arpaio said. “If certain groups don’t like it, that’s OK. They have freedom of speech, but they’re not going to violate any laws. They’re going to have to pay the consequences.”
