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 Television news footage of the demonstration outside Phoenix
showed dozens of protesters blocking traffic while holding signs
that read "Dump Trump" and "Shut Down Trump."
The demonstrators eventually started marching down the highway.
Later, some were seen nearing the rally at Fountain Hills, Arizona,
before Trump arrived.
Three people were arrested, according to police in Maricopa County,
where Joe Arpaio, a well-known critic of U.S. immigration policy and
an ardent Trump supporter, serves as sheriff.
Video posted on news website Arizona Central's Facebook page showed
a truck driving through a large group of protesters. Officers from
the county police department worked to clear demonstrators from the
motorist's path.
A woman is seen crying and shouting for officers to take
responsibility to stop the vehicle, while a deputy sheriff shrugs at
the suggestion.
Later at a rally in Tucson, Arizona, Trump said the protests were
"disgraceful," and thanked police.
 "They arrested three people and everybody else left... They left!"
Trump said to roaring cheers from the audience.
"I love our police, but we should do a little bit more of that,
you'd have a lot less protesters, you'd have a lot less agitators,"
said Trump, who is favored to win his party's nomination for the
Nov. 8 presidential election.
Several demonstrations also broke out during the later rally,
prompting police to escort out a number of people.
Footage of the Tucson rally shows an attendee punching and kicking
one demonstrator who is being escorted out. The clip also shows
police removing the attacker.
Trump has come under fire from rivals for fueling unrest with his
rhetoric. This week, he warned of riots if Republicans denied him
the nomination at the party's convention.
In Trump's home city of New York, about 1,000 demonstrators marched
from Central Park to Trump Tower, the billionaire developer's
signature building on Fifth Avenue.
The crowd of mostly young people chanted and carried placards
denouncing Trump. Some said police used pepper spray on them as they
marched from the park.
Police were seen taking at least one person into custody. A
spokesman for the New York Police Department could not immediately
confirm whether any arrests were made or whether pepper spray was
used.
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'PEOPLE WHO LOVE HIM'
Arizona, where political parties will hold primary elections on
Tuesday, shares a long stretch of border with Mexico, and is a
flashpoint for the issue of illegal immigration into the United
States.
Trump has made illegal immigration the signature issue of his
campaign, earning the endorsement of Arpaio, the outspoken sheriff.
"Donald Trump has the right to be heard by the thousands of people
who love him, support him and want him to be president of the United
States," Arpaio told CNN.
Later, the sheriff, wearing civilian clothes, introduced Trump at
the rally.
Trump rallies have grown increasingly unruly as the months-long
campaign has progressed. An event in Chicago a week ago was canceled
after protesters swarmed the venue.
Last weekend, a man was arrested when he attempted to rush the stage
where Trump was addressing a rally in Ohio. In another incident, a
man who was caught on video punching an anti-Trump protester in the
face at a North Carolina rally was arrested and charged with
assault.
Trump leads in opinion polls ahead of Arizona's March 22 primary,
according to a Real Clear Politics polling average, leading Senator
Ted Cruz of Texas by 13 percentage points.
(Additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington and Fiona Ortiz
in Chicago; Writing by Frank McGurty; Editing by Mary Milliken and
David Gregorio)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
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