It really is true what they say, you can’t describe it, you have to experience it.
Last week Trumps 2020 Campaign rally came to Greenville, NC. 8000 people
packed Minges Coliseum at East Carolina University and hundreds watched
on a large screen outside. The oppressive heat took it’s toll with a heat index
of 105. Little drops of sweat fell off my clothing leaving a trail of liquid dots
that disappeared as soon as they hit the ground That day there were 38
medical-related emergencies most due to the heat.
Most political rallies seem to be the same, except for a Trump Rally.
I’ve been to dozens of these things some for work and some because I believe
in the cause Democrat, Republician and even 3rd party. There is just something
different about a Trump rally.
The first Trump rally I attended was November of 2016. This was back at the
begining of Trumps run for office and people weren’t
sure whether to take him serious or not.I thought
it’d be a freakshow. The previous rallies had crazy protesters and fights were
constantly breaking out so I was looking forward to seeing the mayhem first hand.
As a photographer I’ve always been drawn to frindge groups as subjects
for my pictures. I like to seek out the odd and different. I’ve hung out with drug dealers,
drag queens, gangs, bikers, the circus and probably most other odd or
weird group you can think of. That was what attracted me to the Trump crowd.
There’s just something about the atmosphere at a Trump rally. It’s like being at game 7
or the Super Bowl. The air is electric and full of tension. They call it
a rally but it feels more like a festival. It’s like going to a Greatful Dead show
without the grilled cheese, veggie burgers and drugs. Countless vendors
line the roads and parking lots selling anything you can put a Trump logo on.
Today they seemed to be selling more cold drinks then anything else.
I stood in line for over an hour dripping sweat with the rest of the crowd.
When they played the National Anthem people removed their hats and
put their hands over their hearts. Someone walked by saying the secret service
has taken down the metal detectors and the coliseum was at capacity. The crowd
groaned but continued to moved forward to the large TV monitor out front.
They had called for a chanceof rain so people brought umbrella’s. The
Secrete Service wasn’t having anything to do with umbrella’s so they were
littered all over the place. It was like an umbrella graveyard.
One thing that stood out was the age range of attendants. Young, old
and everything in between.
Finally, there he was, POTUS on the large screen. There was a brief pause
outside then the crowd went crazy. People had come prepared with folding chairs
and the large screen had turned into a small sweaty outdoor movie theater.
The familiar chants from Trumps last run, “build the wall” and “lock her up” were
briefly replace by “send her home”.
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