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U.S. NEWSMonday 21 March 2016
Trump’s immigration stance resonates at tense rallies
RYAN VANVELZER
JACQUES BILLEAUD
Associated Press
TUCSON, Arizona (AP) —
Donald Trump’s campaign
in Arizona is centered on
his hard line against illegal delegates needed to se-
immigration, a stand that
supporters embraced in a
series of tense rallies ahead tion in July. They are hoping
of Tuesday’s presidential
primary in the border state.
“Illegal immigration is gon-
na stop,” Trump said Sat-
urday night in Tucson. “It’s
dangerous,” he said. “Ter-
rible.”
Both in Phoenix and Tuc-
son, Trump was introduced
by former Arizona Gov. Jan
Brewer, who pushed tough
immigration laws in office,
and Joe Arpaio, the Mari-
copa County sheriff who
made his name by chas-
ing down people who are
in the country illegally. The cuses. Limited polling shows
county includes Phoenix
and nearly two-thirds of
Arizona’s population.
Protesters showed up at ev-
ery event. In Phoenix, they
blocked the main road into
his outdoor rally for several
hours before it started. In
Tucson, they interrupted
him and some were tossed
from the event.
Police said Sunday that
about half a dozen people
were arrested at the Ari-
zona rallies, including two
on misdemeanor charges
of assault. It was not clear
how many were protesters
or Trump supporters.
Trump was campaigning
in Arizona ahead of Tues-
day’s primary in which the
winner will take all 58 del-
egates at stake.
Trump’s main rivals, Texas
Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio
Gov. John Kasich, are des-
perately trying to prevent
the real estate mogul from
accumulating the 1,237
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks dur-
ing a campaign rally Saturday, March 19, 2016, in Fountain Hills,
Ariz. love,” then added bitingly,
cure the nomination at the
party’s national conven-
for a contested convention
in which delegates would
be free to turn from Trump
if he fails to win a major-
ity on the first ballot. Trump senator, an uncompromis-
has won 678 delegates in
contests held thus far, ac-
cording to a count by The
Associated Press. Cruz is
in second place with 423
delegates, and Kasich is in
third with 143.
His rivals hope to offset a
likely Trump win in Arizona
on Tuesday with a strong
showing in the Utah cau-
Cruz leading in the state
where Mormons account
for two-thirds of the state’s
moved one or more, he ple like Donald Trump.”
said: “We want to do it with Late Saturday he held his
fourth Arizona rally in the
“Get ‘em outta here.” past five days, this time
Associated Press In Tucson, one protester just outside of downtown
carried a sign with an im- Phoenix. Sanders is hoping
3 million residents. Mitt Rom- age of a Confederate flag for a win in Tuesday’s Ari-
ney, the 2012 Republican over an image of Trump; zona primary to propel him
presidential nominee and another wore a Ku Klux through the next month
the Mormon faith’s most Klan-style white sheet.. A when several states more
visible member, said he man in the crowd attacked favorable for him are due
intends to vote for Cruz in the protester with the Con- to vote.Sanders is looking
the caucuses, but stopped federate sign, kicking and to rebound from his defeat
short of endorsing the Texas punching him before be- last Tuesday in five state
ing arrested. The protesters contests to Hillary Clinton,
ing conservative. were led out by security. which gave the former
However, Utah’s delegates “It was a tough thing to secretary of state a nearly
will be distributed propor- watch,” Trump said Sunday insurmountable lead of
tionally based on the per- on ABC’s “This Week,” add- more than 300 pledged
centage of votes — unless ing, “But why would a pro- delegates.
a candidate gets more tester walk into a room with Clinton planned rallies in
than 50 percent, which a Ku Klux Klan outfit on?” Arizona on Monday.
would give that person all Trump made clear, though, Earlier Saturday, tempers
40 delegates. “We don’t condone vio- flared at Trump’s large
In Arizona, Trump treated lence.” gathering in Phoenix, but
the latest protests with a The chairman of the Re- without the violence that
mix of pacifist rhetoric and publican National Com- marred his event in Chica-
a mocking tone. “We love mittee, Reince Priebus, told go a week before that end-
our protesters, don’t we?” ABC television that “as far ed up being cancelled.
he asked. As security re- as everyone getting in- For hours, about two doz-
volved in the crowds, leave en protesters parked their
it to the professionals” in cars in the middle of the
law enforcement. main road to the event,
As the rally attendees later unfurling banners reading
streamed out of the hall, “Dump Trump” and “Must
protesters hurled two water Stop Trump,” and chanting
bottles at them and called “Trump is hate.” Traffic was
them racists. backed up for miles, with
Arizona Democrats also drivers honking in fury.
vote on Tuesday, and The road was eventually
contender Bernie Sanders cleared and protesters
campaigned Saturday at marched down the high-
the U.S.-Mexico border in way to the rally site, weav-
Nogales. ing between Trump sup-
Standing in front of a tall, porters who booed and
steel fence that divides the jeered them.
two countries, the Vermont Trump supporter Geroy
senator promised to keep Morgan, 62, made it to the
immigrant families together rally but was furious at the
by taking more steps than demonstrators, some of
President Barack Obama whom still stood around af-
has done to protect many ter the event ended.
from deportation. Sanders “We come here, the silent
called Arpaio a bully and majority, to express our
he bemoaned the “divi- opinions,” Morgan said.
sive, bigoted and xeno- “They don’t have any per-
phobic comments of peo- mits or rights.”q