Vice President Kamala Harris‘ rally in Detroit, Michigan, ended in total disaster on Wednesday as thousands were stranded while staffers were brought to tears.
The rally ended with people being unable to find shuttles back to their cars, according to political scientist Josiah Lippincott.
“Complete chaos after the Detroit Kamala rally. It has been 2.5 hours, and people are still unable to find shuttles back to their cars,” Lippincott said.
“Campaign staff has no idea what is happening.”
“Rally was held near a UPS delivery center so dozens of trucks are mixed up with the buses. Tempers are high,” he noted.
Kamala staffers also broke down into tears as chaos erupted around them.
My bus was nearly in an accident pic.twitter.com/ntyZevq2pR
— Josiah Lippincott (@jlippincott_) August 8, 2024
The rally was at the circled hangar. But it is located on a spur off the main road highlighted in red. The arrow is the turn around point for the buses. Add a bunch of freight trucks from UPS, confused campaign staff, and tired and hungry rally goers and you get complete chaos. pic.twitter.com/qbe2AAATDl
— Josiah Lippincott (@jlippincott_) August 8, 2024
This is how the buses are turning around 🤣 pic.twitter.com/ViMo6A6cDB
— Josiah Lippincott (@jlippincott_) August 8, 2024
During the event, thousands were outside without shade, leading to several heat-related episodes.
Harris even had to pause her remarks to call for urgent medical assistance on behalf of attendees.
The problems didn’t end there, however.
Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted Harris during her rally remarks.
According to a report from NBC:
About halfway through the vice president’s remarks, roughly half a dozen protesters began to chant, “Kamala, Kamala you can’t hide! We won’t vote for genocide.”
Harris first acknowledged the protesters by borrowing a strategy President Joe Biden used earlier this cycle when pro-Palestinian demonstrators routinely interrupted his events, affirming the protesters’ right to voice their opinions while trying to redirect attention to the remarks.
“I’m here because we believe in democracy. Everyone’s voice matters,” she said.
“But I am speaking now. I am speaking now.”
As the protests continued, Harris’ tone changed.
“You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking,” Harris said.
Meanwhile, Tim Walz also continued to frame Republican opponents as “weird.”
“These ideas that they’re putting out there, they are weird as hell.”
“No one’s asking for it. No one’s asking for it. We’re asking [for] a fair shot,” Walz said.
“We’re asking for health care and child care. We’re asking for an education. We’re asking for safety in our streets.”
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