Protestors gather ahead of Trump’s Phoenix rally

Washington : Thousands of protesters descended on downtown Phoenix on Tuesday ahead of US President Donald Trump’s campaign-style rally to oppose his assessment in which he blamed “both sides” for Charlottesville’s racial violence that occurred earlier this month.

Several marches in opposition to Trump were mapped out, with all scheduled to converge on the Phoenix Convention Center, where the president is set to take the stage at 7 p.m. local time, LA Times reported.

Several Trump supporters also lined up near the convention centre and shouted, “Build that wall! Build that wall!”.

Nearly 4,000 people indicated on Facebook that they would attend an anti-Trump rally at the Herberger Theater Center which is less than a block from the convention center.

Fear of violence surrounds Trump’s Phoenix rally. Will he speak to the nation or rile up his base?
In addition, several groups that describe themselves as anti-facist have urged supporters to congregate in downtown Phoenix, even as a “Stand for Patriotism” rally and an appearance by the local chapter of Bikers 4 Trump were planned there as a show of support for the president.

Among those to arrive about four hours before the rally was 62-year-old Wolf Schneiter, who held an “alt-right delete” sign to protest the far-right movement that has backed Trump.

—IANS