Friends, I attended Pres. Trump’s rally in Harrisburg and wish to report that our little group felt very safe, both during the more than five-hour wait outside and inside. LE were everywhere and it was most obvious that security was coordinated. There were several types of LE groups from mounted police and state troopers to local police force, in addition to SS and hired security guards who must also be required body builders. Their biceps were quite intimidating and they would periodically weave through our line to let people know their backpacks, purses, flagpoles, etc. would not be permitted inside. Some around me reported there were periodic drones above us but I never spotted them. I did not see any LE on rooftops, although Pres. Trump was not scheduled to be outside.
As it got closer to the time for DJT to speak, it became clear there was some kind of a security concern. SS who I recognized from Butler photos would periodically walk out on the stage, peering around and pointing as they conferred, and then go back behind stage. This happened over and over.
Other SS were systematically walking up and down each aisle looking us over. State troopers were stationed at the top of each passageway out to entrance hall. Periodically, combined groups of LE would rush over to a section of attendees on the floor and seemed to be questioning them. In between, clusters of police would wind among the seating sections.
The scheduled six o’clock speaking time long passed and finally a group of LE confronted someone in a previously questioned group and arrested her. Thursday, I saw reports headlined to the effect of “some old woman removed from Trump rally,” when in fact (my own observation) she appeared to be 35-40 years old, quite energetic, and was clearly resisting arrest.
Maybe more than you wanted to know. My point was to say, I think SS and LE did a fine job at this rally — hopefully an indication of good collaboration and the result of lessons learned, albeit very late.
All and only my personal observations.