Phoenix Trump Rally: Road Closures, Times, Protest Info, More

PHOENIX, AZ — President Donald Trump is visiting Phoenix on Wednesday to hold a rally, and Phoenix officials are reminding the public that the president's visit will cause road closures and delays. The visit will begin at Sky Harbor International Airport.

The rally is scheduled for 7 p.m., Feb. 19 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 1826 W. McDowell Rd. at the State Fair Grounds. Tickets for the Trump rally are first come, first served.

See a live stream of the Trump rally here.

Below is information from the City of Phoenix and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Links to their websites for full information about the Trump rally are at the bottom of the article.

Road Closures

Roads will be closed as President Trump moves between Sky Harbor and the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Phoenix officials say the closures will happen during rush hour.

At the event, Encanto will be closed between 17th and 19th avenues.

Traffic is expected to be heavy on the main thoroughfares of 19th Avenue, McDowell and Grand Avenue. Choose alternate routes when possible.

Visit the Phoenix Police Department Twitter for regular updates on traffic conditions.

Parking

Attendees can park:

• Within the parking lots of the Arizona State Fair Grounds
• Within the parking lot west of 19th Avenue, south of Encanto Boulevard

Parking is allowed starting at 6 a.m., and the venue will open at 3 p.m. Consider carpooling, using public transportation or ride sharing. Do not park on residential streets nearby, as many of those areas are permit parking only and cars may be towed.

Attendees can enter the venue at:

• 19th Avenue and Monte Vista
• Encanto Boulevard east of 19th Avenue

See a map of the event below, shared by the Arizona Department of Education.

Police Enforcement

Law enforcement within the State Fair Grounds will be handled by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Phoenix police are handling enforcement in the surrounding areas.

Police ask anybody to report criminal or suspicious behavior. Officers and detectives will be in the area.

You can also submit a tip.

Prohibited Items

Items like alcohol, weapons, aerosols, supports for signs and many others are prohibited.

See a full list of prohibited items on the Arizona DPS website.

Protesting

Police say there will be a designated area for spectators and attendees who wish to voice their opinions and beliefs. The area will be on the north side of Encanto Road between 17th and 19th avenues, and will be clearly marked.

Protesting can not include blocking roadways, police say, adding it's dangerous for pedestrians and motorists alike. Those who block roadways may be arrested on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a public thoroughfare.

If authorities tell protestors to disperse and they fail to, police say, the commander can declare it an unlawful assembly, meaning it's illegal not to disperse. Such announcements will be made in English and in Spanish, and police remind residents that there "may be situations where immediate police intervention is needed."

Police say that, if an unlawful assembly is called, police will say something like:

I am ___ (name) ___, a police officer for the City of Phoenix. I hereby declare this to be an unlawful assembly in the name of the People of the State of Arizona and command all persons so assembled at ___ (location) ___ to immediately and peacefully disperse. Arizona Revised Statute 13-2902 prohibits remaining present at an unlawful assembly and if you do not disperse, you will be subject to arrest.

The requirement to disperse applies to members of the media, police say.

City of Phoenix press release.

Arizona Department of Safety press release.