Phoenix Bernie Sanders Rally: Traffic, Parking More

PHOENIX, AZ — Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders is coming to Phoenix Thursday evening for a rally at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and city police are reminding residents traffic and parking could be impacted in the area of the State Fairgrounds.

The rally will be held at the coliseum on the State Fairgrounds near 19th Avenue and McDowell Road at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Watch the rally live here.

The rally is free to attend, but Sanders' campaign encourages attendees to RSVP online. Doors for the 6:30 p.m. rally open at 4:30. The coliseum's entrance off of McDowell Road will be closed.

Traffic

According to Phoenix police, no road closures are expected in the area, but heavy traffic is still possible.

Police said because the event is happening around the time of rush hour, traffic will still be heavy on the main thoroughfares of 19th Avenue, McDowell Road and Grand Avenue.

For real-time traffic updates, follow Phoenix police on Twitter.

Parking

According to Phoenix police, the fairgrounds should provide adequate parking for rally attendees. If, however, there is a shortage of parking, police are reminding residents not to park on residential streets in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Residential streets are often permit-only parking, and leaving a car in these areas could result in towing.

Attendees concerned about parking should consider carpooling, using public transportation or taking a ride-sharing option.

The cost to park on the fair grounds is $10, cash only.

Protesting

Police have created a free speech zone where protestors or supports will be allowed to gather and voice their beliefs and opinions. This area will be clearly marked and located on the north side of Encanto Road between 17th and 19th Avenues.

Information related to this area will be shared on the Phoenix police Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as on the Nextdoor app.

What can I bring in the coliseum?

Rally attendees are encouraged to bring water Thursday as hot weather is expected. Alcohol, weapons and signs, however, are prohibited.

Assembling and Blocking Roadways

Pedestrians are not allowed to block roadways intended for vehicles. Police warn people doing so could be arrested for obstructing a public thoroughfare, a misdemeanor crime.

Similarly, groups of people will not be permitted to gather in an "unlawful assembly," which is when a group of people are involved in criminal activity or are posing a danger to themselves or others.

Groups engaged in unlawful assembly will be given a warning when possible, police said. Once warned, assemblers will be given time to disperse.

If immediate intervention is necessary, an officer will say something similar to the following:

“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."

Those who fail to disperse, police said, could be arrested

For more information, read the Phoenix police's statement here.