Arizonians demonstrating against Republican candidate Donald Trump's scheduled appearance in a Phoenix suburb used cars to block the road into the event Saturday, police said. 'Protesters have used vehicles to block off Shea Boulevard. We're going to evaluate the situation,' Maricopa County sheriff's deputy Joaquin Enriquez. Police said protesters parked vehicles sideways across the road, which is the main thoroughfare into the affluent suburb Fountain Hill where Trump was scheduled to speak. 'They're going a little far when they block off roads like that. They're blocking emergency vehicles as well,' Enriquez said.
'Over 3,000 people signed up on Facebook to attend a demonstration dubbed 'Protest Trump in Arizona - Protesta Contra Trump en Arizona.'
Donald Trump is speaking at a rally in a Phoenix, Arizona suburb ... He is set to be joined onstage by controversial sheriff Joe Arpaio
Protesters used cars to block the main thoroughfare to the rally location
Read the story after the cut ....
#PoliticalRascality...Is this coordinated push, the latest phase of 'Stop The Trump' efforts? This stuff looks like an 'internal' issue wearing a different mask.
Arizonians demonstrating against Republican candidate Donald Trump's scheduled appearance in a Phoenix suburb used cars to block the road into the event Saturday, police said.
'Protesters have used vehicles to block off Shea Boulevard. We're going to evaluate the situation,' Maricopa County sheriff's deputy Joaquin Enriquezwas quoted as saying.
Police said protesters parked vehicles sideways across the road, which is the main thoroughfare into the affluent suburb Fountain Hill where Trump was scheduled to speak.
'They're going a little far when they block off roads like that. They're blocking emergency vehicles as well,' Enriquez said.
Protesters used cars to block the main road to Saturday's Trump event in Phoenix
Police said 'there will be some people going to jail' if protesters break the law with their anti-Trump blockade
A Trump supporter in an anti-Hillary tshirt goes through security as he arrives to attend Trump's Phoenix rally
The deputy said that 'there will be some people going to jail' if protesters break the law.
The county's controversial sheriff Joe Arpaio, a Trump supporter who is scheduled to introduce and speak alongside the candidate at the Phoenix rally, commented on the protests Saturday.
'Those opposed to Donald Trump, it's them that's inciting the riots. They don't like our fight against illegal immigration,' Arpaio told MSNBC.
The sheriff said he had 'two missions' - the first one of which was to 'welcome and introduce Donald Trump.'
'Of course, I'm also the sheriff for that town,' Arpaio said.
Protesters along Shea Boulevard said they wanted to keep Trump out of their state.
'We're shutting it down. We don't want Donald Trump in Arizona,' one protester said.
'We don't want his hatred,' the man told a reporter with NBC.
Asked if he's worried about going to jail, the man answered: 'That's a risk we're willing to take. If Donald Trump continues and becomes president... More of our families will be hurt.'
'I want to stop Trump. He doesn't have a place in this state,' a female protester who chained herself to her car on Shea Boulevard told NBC.
Earlier in the week, sheriff Arpaio told reporters that if protesters 'violate the law, they will go to the tents.'
He was referring to his makeshift jail known as Tent City, which the tough-talking sheriff in the past has described as a 'concentration camp.'
At least one protest rally was planned for Saturday's event, with over 3,000 people signing up on Facebook to attend a demonstration dubbed 'Protest Trump in Arizona - Protesta Contra Trump en Arizona.'
'Protesters will be rallying nearby the event to be a visible voice against Trump's rhetoric of racism that is fostering a dangerous and dehumanizing climate in Arizona and across the country,' organizers wrote on the event page.
Another group, Veterans for Peace, was also planning to take a stand Saturday against Trump's 'Islamophobic rhetoric.'
'We have to stand up where we see people speaking this way,' executive director Michael McPhearson told Politico.
Trump is scheduled to speak at a second Arizona event in Tuscon later Saturday afternoon.
A supporter is told by police he can't wear his Trump face mask before the campaign rally Saturday
'They're going a little far when they block off roads like that. They're blocking emergency vehicles as well,' police said
'Protesters have used vehicles to block off Shea Boulevard. We're going to evaluate the situation,' police said
On Friday, protesters clashed with supporters of Donald Trump after he gave a speech in Utah.
Hundreds of people chanted 'Dump Trump' and 'Mr. Hate Out of Our State' as police in riot gear blocked the entrance to the Infinity Events Center in Salt Lake City.
Protesters tried to rush the door and got into dozens of screaming matches with Trump supporters who didn't make into the venue.
At one point, protesters and Trump supporters faced each other in an impromptu dance-off in the street, KSL reported.
Salt Lake Police push protesters back at a rally outside the Infinity Events Center in Salt Lake City Friday
A protester confronts a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in downtown Salt Lake City as Donald Trump gave his first campaign speech in Utah on Friday
One anti-Trump protester said he is angry because he feels Trump is a liar who divides Americans.
'I don't think any Donald Trump supporters can look at themselves with a clear conscience and not think he is a pathological liar,' Jiovan Melendez told KSL.
'We're going backwards if we're not coming together as a nation. Do [people] want a divisive leader or someone who will bring the country together?'
Police said no one was arrested at the protest.
Trump said he loves Mormons in his first public appearance of the campaign in Utah.
He had critical words, though, for former presidential candidate and Utah resident Mitt Romney, who said he was supporting Texas Senator Ted Cruz in the state's upcoming caucuses.
A protester holds a U.S. flag as hundreds gather in downtown Salt Lake City
A protester confronts supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Friday
'Are you sure he's a Mormon? Are we sure?' Trump jokingly asked his crowd at the rally.
Romney, who has made Utah his adopted home, said Friday that he plans to vote for Cruz in the state's Tuesday caucuses.
'The only path that remains to nominate a Republican rather than Mr. Trump is to have an open convention,' Romney wrote in a Facebook post endorsing Cruz.
'At this stage, the only way we can reach an open convention is for Senator Cruz to be successful in as many of the remaining nominating elections as possible.'
'I will vote for Senator Cruz and I encourage others to do so as well, so that we can have an open convention and nominate a Republican,' Romney's post concluded.
The announcement from Romney, the faith's most visible member, dealt a blow to John Kasich as he campaigned in the heart of Mormon country.
Romney has campaigned with Kasich in other states but stopped short of endorsing him.
In addition to his position as a prominent member of Utah's dominant faith, Romney is also revered in the state for leading a turnaround of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.
Kasich brushed off the endorsement, telling reporters Friday in Orem that Romney is entitled to his opinion that voting for Cruz could deny Trump the GOP nomination.
But the Ohio governor said the election 'is not a parlor game,' and he contends that he is the Republican best suited to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November.
Ricky Wilkens, left, one of the leaders of the 'Dump Trump' protest, speaks with a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside the Infinity Events Center in Salt Lake City
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Salt Lake City campaign rally Friday
It's unclear to what degree his endorsement of Cruz may sway GOP voters in the Tuesday caucuses.
The Texas senator was already expected to have a leg up on the other Republican contenders because of his emphasis on religious liberties and backing from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee.
Kasich's Friday town hall was one of four events he has planned in the state over two days as part of his attempt to win over Utah's GOP voters next week.
Bernie Sanders and GOP contenders Donald Trump and Ted Cruz were all scheduled to make campaign appearances in the Beehive State on Friday and Saturday.
Fueled by a strong turnout of young supporters, thousands attended Sanders' rally and speech Friday afternoon in Salt Lake City.
The Democratic presidential candidate reiterated the cornerstone issues of his campaign, including promises to address a 'rigged economy' and broken criminal justice system. Many of his supporters wore T-shirts with the campaign slogan, 'Feel the Bern.'
Sanders will square off with Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton in Utah's caucus on Tuesday.
Clinton has a lead of more than 300 pledged delegates.
Jasen Tropf of Salt Lake City, cheers while waiting for Donald Trump to speak
'Are you sure [Romney]'s a Mormon? Are we sure?' Trump jokingly asked his crowd at the rally.
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