The Latest: Trump backers boo protesters as candidate speaks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign trip to Arizona (all times Eastern Standard Time):

3:05 p.m.

Thousands of people are gathered in a Phoenix suburb as Donald Trump delivers a campaign speech in the hometown of the state's contentious Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Demonstrators chanted "Stop the hate" at the Saturday rally in Fountain Hills, Arizona, as introduced Trump at the rally. The protesters were booed and jeered as they made their way through the crowd as a large group of officers with Arpaio's office made their way toward them.

Trump supporters countered with chants of "Trump! Trump! Trump!" and "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!"

One Trump supporter yelled, "learn to speak English."

"You can't even show your face," a Trump supporter yelled at a protester with a bandanna over her face.

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2:55 p.m.

Demonstrators are marching through a crowd that gathered at the edge of a park in a Phoenix suburb as a Donald Trump campaign rally gets set to begin.

The protesters, who earlier Saturday had blocked the main highway leading to the event, were outside the perimeter set up by the Secret Service around the main rally site but still surrounded by thousands of Trump backers.

Trump's motorcade arrived just as the demonstrators weaved through the crowd. He's set to speak alongside Arizona's contentious Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

The demonstrators were barely visible behind the Trump supporters, who waved signs saying "Hillary for Prison" — referring to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton — and "Joe for VP," referring to Arpaio.

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2:30 p.m.

Ted Cruz is echoing a statement by former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney that voting for his rival John Kasich would inevitably lead to Donald Trump becoming this year's nominee.

Cruz, speaking to reporters in Draper, Utah Saturday ahead of the state's caucuses, urged voters to instead vote for him since he said he's best-positioned to beat the GOP front-runner.

Cruz also lashed out at Trump for questioning whether Mitt Romney is really a Mormon, calling it deplorable.

Romney said Friday he would vote for Cruz in Tuesday's caucuses, saying in a Facebook statement that Trump "has become associated with racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence."

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2:15 p.m.

Vehicles on a highway outside Phoenix are now moving again after protesters denouncing Donald Trump's candidacy blocked the only major road leading to the site of the GOP front-runner's rally.

Officers remained on both sides of the road Saturday to ensure the crowd of some two dozen protesters was dispersing.

Dozens of people filed back to their vehicles. It was not clear how many were protesters and how many were merely spectators.

The disruption occurred well after large crowds lined up to get into the Fountain Hills rally, where Trump is scheduled to speak alongside Arizona's revered Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

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1:20 p.m.

Protesters are blocking a main highway leading into the Phoenix suburb where Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is set to hold a campaign rally.

The protesters parked their cars in the middle of the road Saturday, unfurling banners with anti-Trump slogans and chanting "Trump is hate." The disruption caused a lengthy traffic backup, and drivers honked their horns in frustration.

Maricopa County Sheriff Deputy Joaquin Enriquez said officers will ask the protesters to move and if they don't comply, they will forcibly remove them.

The disruption occurred well after large crowds lined up to get into the Fountain Hills rally, where Trump is scheduled to speak alongside Arizona's revered Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

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The Gayly - 3/19/2016 @ 2:26 p.m. CST