US Election: Biden Event in Texas Cancelled as 'Armed' Trump Supporters
Threaten Campaign Bus
By Matt Mathers, The Independent
31 October 20
VP candidate Kamala Harris made three stops in Texas on Friday
Joe Biden campaigners were forced to cancel an event in Texas on Friday as
tensions flared in the key battleground state ahead of election day.
Local Democrats said they were forced to pull the plug on a gathering
scheduled to take place in Pflugerville a small city about 17 miles north
of Austin due to "security reasons".
It came as vice-presidential candidate, senator Kamala Harris, completed a
whistle-stop three-city tour of the Lone Star state in a last-minute bid for
votes.
Traditionally a Republican stronghold, the battle for Texas's 38 electoral
college votes is likely to go down to the wire.
President Trump has a slight lead in the state, according to
FiveThirtyEight's latest poll update. But that advantage is within the
margin of error and a Biden win in Texas could be key to his path to the
White House.
Sheryl Cole, a Democrat member of the Texas House of Representatives, said
officials cancelled an event set to feature the city's young party members
and the Biden campaign.
"This is a first for me," said Ms Cole of the decision to scrap the event.
"Unfortunately, pro-Trump protesters have escalated well beyond safe limits.
Sorry to all who looked forward to this fun event," she added.
Congressman Lloyd Doggett, US representative candidate Wendy Davis and
Austin mayor Steve Adler were among some of the speakers due to deliver
remarks at the event.
A Biden/Harris campaign bus made a brief stop in downtown Austin and was
heckled by around a dozen president Trump supporters. It was not immediately
clear if senator Harris was traveling on the bus.
According to local Democrats, the same group of Trump supporters has been
following the bus around the country in an attempt to disrupt events in key
battleground states.
Rafael Anchía, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, said some of
the agitators had been carrying weapons.
"Armed Trump trolls harassing Biden Bus on I-35, ramming volunteer vehicles
& blocking traffic for 40 mins," he said, before accusing Mr Trump's son
Eric of inciting "violence".
"At least the Trump hearse is appropriate given the 200K+ Americans who have
died due to his incompetence," he added, referencing a vehicle driven by Mr
Trump's supporters to antagonize the bus.
