Dramatic pictures show the protests outside Donald Trump’s rally in Phoenix
There were clashes with police.
Donald Trump’s first political event since the violence in Charlottesville has been met with charged protests.
Images show police trying to disperse crowds with tear gas as thousands lined the streets in Phoenix protesting over the “politics of hate”.
Thousands of Trump supporters had gathered for the rally, where the president pulled out copies of his speeches regarding the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville more than a week ago.
Trump omitted his widely criticised comment from August 15, when he blamed “many sides” for the violence in Charlottesville.
The president also appeared to mention Confederate statues, saying: “They’re trying to take away our culture. They’re trying to take away our history.”
Police were vigilant in case of clashes like those seen in Charlottesville, where counter-protester Heather Heyer was killed after she was mown down by a car.
A number of people at the Phoenix protest said they were there for her.
Others carried signs against fascism and racism.
The president helped lead chants of “build the wall”, according to CNN, saying: “If we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall.”
The Phoenix Police Department said four people were arrested at the protest, plus one who was arrested on an unrelated warrant.
These protests followed ones in Boston at the weekend where around 40,000 counter-demonstrators were estimated to have attended a white supremacist “free speech” rally.
