Thousands gathered outside of President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona Tuesday night, in what was a mostly peaceful protest that ended with police dispelling tear gas toward the end when protesters reportedly tried to move barricades, according to multiple media outlets.
Five people were arrested at the protest, but one person was arrested on an unrelated warrant, Phoenix police told the Associated Press.
Officers are addressing criminal behavior near 2nd St & Monroe. Please follow directions to move from the area.
— Phoenix Police (@phoenixpolice) August 23, 2017
The streets surrounding the convention center where Trump’s rally was held were packed by 3:00 p.m., CNN reported. Supporters waited in lines outside the center, while protesters were kept on the other side of the street, holding anti-Trump signs protesting white supremacy and many of the President’s policies.
Views from the roof of the parking lot across from Phoenix convention center. People packed on every floor. #trumprally protest pic.twitter.com/pHMc1rbAik
— Saba Hamedy (@saba_h) August 23, 2017
Some anti trump protest signs #trumprally pic.twitter.com/FCgjtEHovp
— Saba Hamedy (@saba_h) August 22, 2017
Watch live: Thousands of protesters have descended on Phoenix ahead of Trump's rally https://t.co/oTVdBscVEV pic.twitter.com/U5d3pmAYTl
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 23, 2017
Several supporters wore purple in memory of Heather Heyer, the Charlottesville, Virginia woman who was killed when a white nationalist allegedly drove his car through a crowd of counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally in the city earlier this month.
News outlets reported that Tuesday’s protest was fueled by the President’s response to the violence in Charlottesville and his failure to immediately denounce white supremacists. He also blamed both sides for the violence that erupted at the rally.
Group wearing purple for #HeatherHeyer #trumprally protest pic.twitter.com/iwBZ9G95h8
— Saba Hamedy (@saba_h) August 23, 2017
There was even a large inflatable Trump doll present, wearing a white Ku Klux Klan robe next to a large sign that said “Make America Hate Again.”
Once Trump finished his speech, some protestors attempted to move a barricade keeping them on one side of the street. Police warned the protesters not to move it and then fired tear-gas canister, the LA Times reported.
Police used tear gas against thousands of protesters demonstrating outside President Trump's rally in Phoenix https://t.co/yS7o5TSbLG pic.twitter.com/mEQMfVPuA0
— CNN (@CNN) August 23, 2017
Local media reported that pepper balls were also deployed.
VIDEO: Pepper balls deployed at Trump protest in downtown Phoenix pic.twitter.com/NphaexQmD4
— azcentral (@azcentral) August 23, 2017
Some protestors said they were given no warning before police detonated the tear gas.
I was on Monroe right when first pepper spray was deployed. I witnessed no provocation, only peaceful protest. There was also no warning. pic.twitter.com/wo9RH6v0E7
— David Schapira (@dschapira) August 23, 2017
A Phoenix police spokesman told the LA Times that some people threw rocks and bottles at police.
Protests were peaceful until Trump exited the stage. Some protesters (not all) tried to get through barricades. https://t.co/Mj23u1MEYt
— Kurtis Lee (@kurtisalee) August 23, 2017
The Arizona branch of the American Civil Liberties Union tweeted just before 1:00 a.m. local time, saying they were willing to defend any protesters who felt their right to peacefully assemble had been violated.
We want to hear from people who believe their right to peacefully protest was violated tonight: https://t.co/qEeVeaIAnC #PhoenixRally #1A
— ACLU of Arizona (@ACLUaz) August 23, 2017
No injuries were reported and a small group of protesters remained after the clash with police around midnight, according to the Associated Press.
Couldn’t they have just eliminated the middlemen and thrown the canisters directly at Trump and Pence?
It’s time to turn on his supporters. They are all klan nazis. Don’t let them whine. Shun them, denigrate them, demonize them and if necessary treat them like terrorists.
Trump brags a lot about his academic accomplishments. Someone should put him on the spot in an interview about releasing his university transcripts. If he told the journo “The people don’t care about them, there’s no need for anyone to see them” follow up with “If you think your supporters don’t care about them why do you publicly brag about your education?”
Proper people don’t associate with Republicans. At all. Their President has confessed to committing sexual assaults with impunity; immune to repercussions through a combination of fame, celebrity and personal wealth. Refusal to disavow and disassociate yourself from such a person speaks volumes as to your character.
Irony being officially dead BTW
Remember when he demanded Obama’s college records?
Trump’s zombie claim that Obama spent $4 million to conceal school and passport records
http://wapo.st/1E2AX6R?tid=ss_mail&utm_term=.b4f0f8c59ba0