Trump rally short on masks, supporters in campaign launch

Bloomberg

President Donald Trump kicked off his re-election campaign before a Tulsa arena crowd whose size fell short of his predictions, in a city reeling from a spike in Covid-19 cases.
The 19,000-capacity BOK Center had plenty of empty seats during Trump’s speech, which came hours after the public-health threat of the event was underscored by news that six campaign staffers in Tulsa had tested positive for the virus.
Trump drew cheers when he blamed “some very bad people outside” after the campaign cancelled plans for him and Vice President Mike Pence to address supporters in an overflow area.
But a security officer said the group of roughly 100 demonstrators at the rally’s entrance hadn’t stopped people from attending.
After the rally, Tulsa police briefly confronted protesters, firing projectiles with eye irritants before backing off.
Earlier, two demonstrators on bicycles were struck by a truck. They appeared to be uninjured. Other protesters continued to march through the streets, and videos showed verbal confrontations between Trump supporters and protesters — including one threat to use a gun.
A number of his supporters started trickling out of the arena even before the president began speaking. Others were turned away, trying multiple gates just to learn that the event had closed to new entrants.
Some of those leaving said they had to get home to their children. Jody Tanner, 53, said he was worried about encountering protesters after dark. He and his daughter watched Pence speak inside the arena but caught Trump’s address from the overflow screen. “We came here to support our nation, but we don’t want to get caught up in the protests,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Trump supporters who crowded outside the BOK Center dismissed the virus concerns, despite news of the Trump staffers testing positive. “It’s sad and it’s scary, but I can’t live my life in fear,” said Rocquel Ussrey, 26, who’s studying in Tulsa to be an esthetician.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to see a standing president.”
As the crowd gathered throughout the day, masks were rare. Stephen Nelson, 35, said he doesn’t believe government data showing a surge in Tulsa cases.
A contractor for Walmart who lives in Rogers, Arkansas, Nelson said wouldn’t use a mask or take any other precautions during the rally.
Others were less confident. “I am concerned,” said Gabrielle Gilliam, 62, a retired office administrator for Edward Jones Investments who lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She wore a cloth mask around her neck that she said she would don if she’s permitted inside the arena. She said she might try to stay outside. “Out here in the open air, I’m OK.”
Inside the arena, few people wore face masks. Outside, the most cautious were some vendors sporting face shields as they sold Trump hats and T-shirts.
The Tulsa Health Department announced that the total number of confirmed cases in the county had risen by 6.6% to 2,206, out of 10,037 statewide.
The rally was supposed to signal that America is well on its way back to normal after weathering both the coronavirus outbreak and nationwide protests against police brutality. Instead, it’s led to new scrutiny of the president’s handling of both the pandemic and the nation’s divisive racial inequities.