Phoenix law-enforcement officials brace for Trump visit

Law-enforcement officials were bracing for “tens of thousands” of supporters and protesters flooding downtown Phoenix Tuesday for President Trump’s rally.

Public officials attempted to calm a public on edge after the racially charged violence that erupted in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier this month and urged everyone coming out to express an opinion to do so peacefully.

City, county and state leaders shared a stage at Phoenix police headquarters Monday afternoon, offering the most detailed plans to date about preparations for Trump's rally at the Phoenix Convention Center.  

First to speak was Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, who acknowledged it would be a “difficult and trying day” for the city. But he assured residents that the city was taking all possible precaution and highlighted its successes with previous large-scale events.

READ:  How to attend (or protest at) President Trump's Phoenix rally Tuesday

Stanton spoke directly to those attending the rally, both as Trump supporters or protesters.

“We want to give you every opportunity to express your First Amendment rights, no matter what your opinion happens to be,” he said. “However, as the mayor of the city of Phoenix, I’m expecting you to be civil, respectful and peaceful. That is the Phoenix way, and tomorrow we have a chance to show the entire world what Phoenix is all about.”

Stanton said major thoroughfares will remain open throughout the day Tuesday, but beginning Tuesday afternoon streets surrounding the convention center will be shut down.

The stretches affected will be Monroe Street from Second Street to Seventh Street, Third Street from Washington to Van Buren streets, and Fifth Street from Washington to Van Buren streets.

MORE:  Widespread business, school closures ahead of Trump's Phoenix rally

Phoenix police Chief Jeri Williams echoed Stanton’s sentiment on protecting First Amendment rights.

“As always, free speech will be supported,” she said. “Criminal conduct will be immediately addressed.”

Phoenix officials declined to elaborate on how many officers they plan to deploy and offered few specifics on the public safety plan. Asked whether they plan to enforce a “buffer zone” between Trump supporters and protesters, Williams said that officers would ensure that they had space to move quickly throughout the area.

They have stressed that their efforts will include multiple agencies, including the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center.

Williams said police have received “no credible threats" that would require businesses to close early Tuesday. Many businesses, however, as well as some courts and schools, opted to do so anyway. 

Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Frank Milstead said Arizona’s Counter Terrorism Information Center will monitor activity, provide a “backstop” for local police and provide additional services in southern Arizona.

Milstead underscored the city’s success in handling another politically charged event in Phoenix, the 2010 protests of  Senate Bill 1070, Arizona’s controversial immigration bill. Both he and Williams were present for these demonstrations, he said.

“We watched hundreds of thousands of people walk down the streets of Phoenix and get their message across without violence,” he said. “Really I think that’s what Arizona’s about … Let your voice be heard, but respect the rights of everyone to have their voice heard.”

Several groups, including Bikers for Trump, Puente Human Rights Movement, the Maricopa County Young Republicans and Indivisible Surprise, have announced rally plans.

Trump’s visit comes as the nation is reeling from the events surrounding a white-supremacist rally Aug. 12 in Charlottesville. Racial tensions in the city came to a deadly conclusion when a man plowed his car into a group of those protesting racism, killing one and injuring 19 others. A 20-year-old Ohio man was arrested.

The president was widely condemned for his comments after the event, in which he blamed both sides for the violence that transpired.

Last week Trump additionally announced that he was “seriously considering” a pardon for former Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s criminal contempt conviction. Last month, a federal judge found Arpaio had willfully defied a court’s order issued amid a racial-profiling case.

Many have speculated that Trump will use the Tuesday rally as occasion to pardon Arpaio. Critics say this would show Trump’s disregard of the criminal-justice system and be an endorsement of racism.

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