Photo by Simon Moya-Smith, ictmn.com
Summer, who asked that her last name not be printed, of the Navajo Nation holds a sign reading, "Natives Against Trump," during a protest on March 19, 2016 in Fountain Hills, Arizona.

'Natives Against Trump': Protesters Block Road to Donald Trump Rally in Arizona

Simon Moya-Smith
3/19/16

Native Americans were among 120 protesters who suddenly blocked a road leading to a scheduled Donald Trump rally on Saturday in Fountain Hills, Arizona.

A protester of the Navajo Nation named Summer, who chose not to provide her last name, attended the rally with a sign reading, "Natives Against Trump."

Native Americans were among 120 protesters who blocked a road leading to a Donald Trump rally on Saturday in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Photo by Simon Moya-Smith, ictmn.com.

Other protesters in attendance carried signs with messages declaring, "Trump = Hitler" and "Good Night White Pride." The town of Fountain Hills, located about 40 minutes north of Phoenix, is home to controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is known for being unapologetically tough on undocumented immigrants.

At one moment during the protest, a sheriff asked aloud, "Are you guys ready to go to jail? Get out of the street!"

The protesters were later allowed to march toward Fountain Hills Park, the site of the Trump rally.

Caroline Burget, left, and Sarah Capawana protest a Donald Trump rally in AZ. Capawana is Burget's mother. Photo by Simon Moya-Smith, ictmn.com.

Protesters blocked a road leading to a Donald Trump rally on Saturday in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Photo by Simon Moya-Smith, ictmn.com.

A woman holds a sign reading, "Stand Against Islamophobia" during a protest outside a Donald Trump rally on Saturday in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Photo by Simon Moya-Smith, ictmn.com.

Trump supporters who had driven to the rally were forced to park their cars on the side of a nearby highway. Police had threatened to tow any cars left behind, but by noon none were reportedly towed.

Maricopa County Sheriffs arrested three protesters, according to Public Information Deputy Enriquez's Twitter account.

Simon Moya-Smith

Simon Moya-Smith, Oglala Lakota, is the Culture Editor at Indian Country Today. Follow him @simonmoyasmith.

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Everett Tsosie
Everett Tsosie
Submitted by Everett Tsosie on
That was one Native. I do applaud her courage... only a native would go to a protest rally without hiding her face. This was a good protest and very civil, shows how proud I am of the people from my home state. Thank Summer.
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turbojesus's picture
turbojesus
Submitted by turbojesus on
Yep all the kids have been indoctrinated with beatles music and marvin gaye lyrics. Why is what he's doing so bad? I mean you can use newspeak words like racism, islamophobia, white pride. Or you could put it like: much Trump wanted all of the people of the world to reach their natal shore. But too many had tasted the corrupting rapine of the native americans. The lust for spoils has condemned against their god. If only they had more piety in the past, they'd never had this problem in being here.
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k220937's picture
k220937
Submitted by k220937 on
Those of us who remember whether we lived in reservations or not, must somehow pass history on. Yes, Trump will continue to be provocative as he already was in the past always. Trump is a magnet for those who still worship Hitler and there is a reason for that. We must remember that Hitler mesmerized those like him. Hitler was obsessed with how "Indians" were being put into camps and starved to death and even called the Russians "red-skins." Let us not forget the disdain Trump has for tribal sovereignty. Think about the 70s and how he went to Congress against the Ojibwa's sovereignty insinuating that to allow their tribal casino would result in mob control. I am descendant of Ramamuri and N'de and we do not forget.
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bullbear's picture
bullbear
Submitted by bullbear on
Trump has many countries fearful for the hateful overtones he sends on immigration and foreign diplomacy. Frankly, Trump is completely impoverished when it comes to congressional experience. How can Americans vote for someone who the world nations mistrust? I support all that Bernie Sanders stands for, but Clinton will be the most effective at meeting some of the issues facing the poor and middle class. America became the strongest nation on earth - not by fear or building walls and fences.
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Michael Madrid's picture
Michael Madrid
Submitted by Michael Madrid on
When I heard about this, I knew that Native cousins would be among the protesters. Trump followers aren't following any minority! They want to return to the time when they could still hunt Indians and Mexicans and they could still buy a Black man for cheap. TRUMP - MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN!
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tmsyr11's picture
tmsyr11
Submitted by tmsyr11 on
Betty Rivas, there are so many more that stand in solidarity with you and support YOUR effort in DECIDING who to vote for! The right to vote triumphs over intimidation and bullying and harrassment. The right to decide and vote is just as applicable to other candidates as well. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - It has been two days since she took center stage, next to the GOP front runner Donald Trump in Tucson. Ever since she showed her support for the billionaire, she has been harassed at her business. Before thousands of eyes were on her Saturday afternoon, Trump spotted not her, but her sign which read "Latinos support D. Trump." While KGUN9 was inside Sammy's Mexican Grill, the phone rang several dozen times, many calling Betty Rivas and her family racists, vulgar names and threatening their business. http://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/trump-thanks-latina-supporter-now-mounting-backlash-threatens-her-business
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Michael Madrid's picture
Michael Madrid
Submitted by Michael Madrid on
We always knew the guy above this comment was an apple. If you're voting from Trump Imareala you'd better brush up on your Spanish because he's sending you to Mexico!
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Bob G.'s picture
Bob G.
Submitted by Bob G. on
I've carried signs in front of FBI offices declaring "Free Leonard Peltier Now" and have never covered my face. I'm sure the FBI has a file on my white ass. We never blocked the way to the doors. Everyone has a right to protest or applaud, but to block the road because of a Trump rally is, in my opinion, wrong. You become that which you dislike. I'm sure many of you readers know what it's like to be blocked from doing what you want to do.
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Bob G.'s picture
Bob G.
Submitted by Bob G. on
Michael Madrid; I have read your posts for years and have always liked what you have to say. Unfortunately, this post of yours is full of hate and bad information. The brush you're painting with is far too broad for the topic. I am a Trump supporter and I, like everyone else I know who supports him, have NO hate in our hearts for anyone. We do not want to hunt anyone, own anyone except ourselves and protect our American people from domestic and foreign terrorism. If a major bomb went of in Chinle and many good Dine were killed, and it was ISIS sponsored, would it change your mind about a break in immigration? Try looking at Trump with an open mind, not like my Mother and brothers, for example, who are brainwashed by Hillary. Have you improved with Obama? I believe not.
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tmsyr11's picture
tmsyr11
Submitted by tmsyr11 on
MMs: Per your "logic", you would be the first to get sent back across the border on the 4….no the 8th bus for being the poser. Why can't we break a…chile relleno…and you get along with people who arent flawed. We can meet and greet at Sammy's Mexican Grill in Tucson. You can leave the tip and I'll buy.
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atmu09's picture
atmu09
Submitted by atmu09 on
The fact that Trump has supporters is the real tragedy. It's peculiar to me that America doesn't have a problem with racism, when there are so many racists around. HMmmmmmmmmm...
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Michael Madrid's picture
Michael Madrid
Submitted by Michael Madrid on
To Bob G. I'm sorry to disappoint you, Bob, but it's Trump's own rhetoric that powers my words. He's proposing to ship all "illegal immigrants" back to Mexico and build a wall (at Mexico's expense). He's threatening to ban all Muslims from immigrating to the U.S. "until we can figure out what's going on." He's threatening violence if the Greedy Old Pigs have a brokered convention if he gets the nomination. He's inciting violence at his rallies and has even offered to pay the legal fees of anyone assaulting protesters. He uses a political debate to market items he CLAIMED were his, but fact-checkers have proven Trump Airlines went bankrupt, he doesn't actually own a winery, Trump steaks don't exist and the Trump magazine he was pushing is only a brochure for his resorts. What is to like about him? He lies, he cheats and he's an overt racist AND he's dangerous. If this were the 1800s, Trump's name would be Andrew Jackson or Kit Carson, or Buffalo Bill. If xenophobia, cheating, physical assault and lying about your accomplishments is what it takes to "make this country great again," I'm not too sure the American people want that! We'll see come election time.
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Michael Madrid's picture
Michael Madrid
Submitted by Michael Madrid on
To tmsyr11: Whatever gave you the notion that I would share a meal with you? Haven't I made it abundantly clear that I don't like you?
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Michael Madrid's picture
Michael Madrid
Submitted by Michael Madrid on
To atmu09: I agree wholeheartedly! I frankly find it a little scary that someone so overtly racist has such a large backing in this country. The closet racists came out of the woodwork when Obama was elected, now with Trump running the rest of them are willing to crawl out from under their rock. I think we should ban all racists from voting, "just until we find out what's going on." ;) ________________________________________________________ For the record, illegal immigration from Mexico has been at record lows for the past year. There are no murderers, no rapists, no drug smugglers coming across the border en masse like Trump suggests, there aren't even . Apparently some people have trouble discerning between actual issues and hyperbole.
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Donald Trump
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Simon Moya-Smith