A Las Vegas event featuring former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is being moved after concerns that attendees of the event and Mexican Independence Day celebrants could clash.
The 85-year-old is headed to Las Vegas on Saturday to receive a “Courage Under Fire” award from a conservative-libertarian group. The event takes place the same day as Mexican Independence Day celebrations in the city.
Organizers moved the Arpaio event away from the independence day celebrations after police were concerned the two groups could clash, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
“It’s a sad day when you have to move a speech because of demonstrators,” Arpaio said.
Trump pardoned Arpaio in August after a judge ruled the former sheriff was in criminal contempt of court for not following orders to stop traffic patrols that targeted illegal immigrants.
Tens of thousands of people are expected for Mexican Independence Day festivities on the Las Vegas Strip.
“We just decided for everyone’s safety, to move to an off-Strip location,” said Chuck Muth, the leader of the group Citizen Outreach that is putting on the Arpaio event.
Muth said about 150 people have signed up to attend the Arpaio event.
