Protesters block road to Donald Trump rally in Fountain Hills
Mar 19, 2016, 10:27 AM | Updated: Mar 21, 2016, 8:38 am
Protesters shut down main road leading to Trump event near Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/qcqdoGdWHW
— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) March 19, 2016
Protesters blocked two lanes on Shea Boulevard leading to Donald Trump’s rally in Fountain Hills, Ariz., Saturday afternoon. Photos and videos posted to Twitter showed a group of protesters parking their cars in the middle of the road with anti-Trump banners. Police began towing the cars blocking the road. NBC correspondent Jacob Rascon, who was on the scene, asked one leader of the protest about why they had decided to block the road. “We don’t Donald Trump in Arizona, we don’t want his hatred,” the man said on a video posted to Twitter. Asked if he was willing to be arrested, the man said, “That’s a risk we’re willing to take. If Donald Trump continues and becomes president more of our families will be hurt.”
Leader of protester group blocking main road to Trump event explains why pic.twitter.com/SOQwwgX6Bd
— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) March 19, 2016
A few protesters tied themselves to their cars to prevent police from towing them.
Three protesters cabled themselves to their cars, delaying deputies who are trying to tow them pic.twitter.com/Z4KCQMTCa0
— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) March 19, 2016
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. Thousands gathered for the outdoor rally. 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. Trump supporters waved signs saying “Hillary for Prison” — referring to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton — and “Joe for VP,” a reference to Arpaio. 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.” The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Deputy arrives and tells protesters to leave, they’re not listening. Deputy calling for backup. pic.twitter.com/kEwCg9tNVg
— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) March 19, 2016
Deputy calls for tow truck, now towing protester vehicles blocking road to Trump event. Protesters keep chanting. pic.twitter.com/wLAGQmZXcs
— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) March 19, 2016
Protesters say getting their cars towed was part of the plan. Three layers of cars. Going to be a while. pic.twitter.com/4Nk6oLe8Xc
— Jacob Rascon (@Jacobnbc) March 19, 2016
Trump protestors blocking ANOTHER route to Trump rally. This is at Shea and SR87 pic.twitter.com/HorpEgWH2Y
— Ty Brennan (@TyFox10) March 19, 2016
