A caravan of vehicles and SUVs flying Trump flags that converged on a Biden marketing campaign bus in Texas on Friday has change into a flashpoi
A caravan of vehicles and SUVs flying Trump flags that converged on a Biden marketing campaign bus in Texas on Friday has change into a flashpoint within the remaining weekend of the 2020 marketing campaign.
The drivers’ actions have been decried by Democrats, praised by President Donald Trump, and, in keeping with CNN and the Texas Tribune, the incident is now beneath investigation by the FBI.
The bus was touring from Austin to San Antonio on Interstate 35, a significant north-south artery by means of Texas, when it was surrounded by a convoy of vehicles and automobiles. A video by a Biden marketing campaign volunteer reveals the automobiles encircling and tailgating the bus on a Texas freeway in addition to no less than one collision, when a pickup truck hit a SUV driving within the subsequent lane over, instantly behind the bus.
These techniques don’t have any place in Texas, my residence state, and no place in America.
Please vote. Please volunteer this weekend. The way forward for our democracy is at stake. pic.twitter.com/G0O4yg2vnJ
— Dr. Eric Cervini (@ericcervini) October 31, 2020
The Biden marketing campaign claimed, in keeping with CNN, there have been “practically 100 automobiles across the marketing campaign bus,” and that it was pressured to gradual from freeway speeds to only 20 miles per hour. Staffers known as 911 throughout the incident, and Texas Democrats subsequently canceled three occasions scheduled for later within the day due to “security issues.”
“Professional-Trump Protestors have escalated properly past protected limits,” Texas state Rep. Sheryl Cole, a Democrat operating for reelection, tweeted.
The Biden marketing campaign has paid growing consideration to Texas within the closing days of the presidential race, as polls present an in depth contest within the traditionally crimson state, which Trump gained by 9 factors in 2016.
In keeping with the FiveThirtyEight polling common for Texas, Trump leads Biden by only one.5 proportion factors, and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris traveled to the state Friday (her marketing campaign swing by means of the state was separate from the bus tour within the video, in keeping with the Texas Tribune) so as to energize the Democratic base, and sway undecided voters there.
Trump has cheered for the automotive and truck parades — together with in Texas
Trump automobile convoys — together with their shut relative, Trump boat parades — have change into a recurring characteristic within the 2020 presidential race, with “Trump Practice” occasions taking to the highway on Sunday in Manatee County, Florida; Washington, DC; Houston; and Louisville, Kentucky, amongst different places. Convoys additionally shut down visitors on the Backyard State Parkway in New Jersey and on the Mario Cuomo and Whitestone bridges in New York.
However the battle with the Biden bus in Texas was an escalation of those techniques — one which comes amid rising concern about violence across the election, and as Trump himself continues to solid doubt on the outcomes.
Saturday, Trump approvingly tweeted a video of the incident with the caption “I LOVE TEXAS!” — a transfer that isn’t prone to assuage widespread fears about violence surrounding the 2020 election. In keeping with a USA Right now/Suffolk College ballot taken from October 23 to October 27, totally 75 p.c of doubtless voters are considerably or very involved about the opportunity of violence on or after Election Day.
And Trump himself has a protracted historical past of glorifying and inciting violence. As Vox’s Fabiola Cineas wrote not too long ago, Trump has “repeatedly confirmed that he has no real interest in selling peace.” His Saturday tweet is simply the most recent instance.
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