Phoenix council members slam Trump visit

• Phoenix City Council members are critical of Donald Trump ahead of his planned Saturday speech
• One council member said the city should block Trump from speaking at the convention center
• The convention center is a city property%2C funded by taxpayers

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and several City Council members are denouncing Donald Trump's Arizona campaign visit, with some members arguing the event shouldn't be held at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Stanton and Councilmembers Michael Nowakowski, Daniel Valenzuela and Kate Gallego, all Democrats, were the first to speak publicly on Trump's planned speech.

They said they don't agree with the Republican presidential candidate's views and think his remarks on illegal immigrants have been "ignorant," "racially inflammatory" and "disgusting."

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But Stanton said the city will not interfere with plans for the Trump event to be held at the taxpayer-funded Phoenix Convention Center.

Trump, who has been criticized for calling some undocumented immigrants rapists and criminals, is set to speak on immigration at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Convention Center's North Ballroom. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio also is slated to speak.

The event was originally scheduled for the Arizona Biltmore, but the location shifted to the downtown Phoenix venue to accommodate the thousands who are expected to attend, Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks said.

In a statement released this week, Valenzuela said the event should be held elsewhere.

"Mr. Trump certainly has a First Amendment right to bluster as much as he wants, and even to pander to our worst instincts in a sad attempt to win votes at the expense of hard-working, honorable, law-abiding Latinos," Valenzuela said.

"However, we should draw the line at allowing him to use the Phoenix Convention Center — a public building funded by all of our taxpayers' dollars — to stage his hate-filled circus."

Gallego also disapproved of Trump's visit, suggesting unhappy residents protest the event.

"It is my hope and prayer that Phoenicians join me in exercising our First Amendment rights to let Mr. Trump know that the residents of Phoenix find his views repugnant," she said in a statement Thursday. "Just because the lawyers say we can't turn him away doesn't mean he's welcome."

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Stanton, also in a released statement, said, "Mr. Trump has a right under the First Amendment to make absurd and embarrassing statements, and the city of Phoenix will not attempt to censor political speech based on content.

"The Convention Center is a public facility and open to everyone willing to pay for it — including Mr. Trump."

Councilman Bill Gates, a Republican, said Trump's views "do not reflect the majority of Arizonans and the majority of Arizona Republicans." He agreed with Stanton, saying the city does not prohibit any use of the center because of political ideology.

Added Nowakowski in a separate statement: "I support our First Amendment right to free speech and as a city, we cannot discriminate based on content or person ... Phoenix will not be tarnished by this event."

Councilwoman Thelda Williams agreed that Phoenix can't block Trump from speaking at the convention center.

"I think all the presidential candidates are welcome to come say their piece so people have an opportunity to hear what they have to say and make up their own minds," she said.

The event is hosted by the Republican Party of Maricopa County, though several members of the state's GOP establishment have said they won't be attending.

Several Valley residents e-mailed the mayor after his remarks, both in favor of Trump visiting and against. "Please don't speak for all citizens of Phoenix," one resident wrote, "I welcome his visit."