Tulsa, Oklahoma — Supporters of President Donald Trump were filling streets Saturday around the Tulsa stadium where the president will hold his first rally in months, ready to welcome him back to the campaign trail despite warnings from health officials about the coronavirus.
Protests also are planned for Saturday, and some Black leaders in Tulsa have said they’re worried the visit could lead to violence. It’s happening amid protests over racial injustice and policing across the US and in a city that has a long history of racial tension. Officials said they expected some 100,000 people in Tulsa’s downtown.
Tulsa has seen cases of Covid-19 spike in the past week, and the local health department director asked that the rally be postponed. But Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt said it would be safe. The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday denied a request that everyone attending the indoor rally wear a mask, and few in the crowd outside Saturday were wearing them.
Masks to protect against Covid-19 are handed to supporters as they enter safety barricade for President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa. Picture: Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP