Let’s dive into the details of a Kamala Harris rally near Detroit, Michigan, that turned into a logistical nightmare on Wednesday night. What started as a high-energy event ended in chaos, frustration, and confusion, leaving many attendees with a sour taste in their mouths.
The rally, which drew a crowd of about 15,000 people, took place at a hangar at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Harris was there to rally support, attacking former President Donald Trump’s positions on climate change, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. However, her speech was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters who chanted, “Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide, we won’t vote for genocide.” Harris stopped her remarks to address the protesters directly, telling them, “If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that; Otherwise I’m speaking,” which earned her applause from the crowd.
Pro-Palestine protesters chant: “Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide. We won’t vote for genocide.”
Kamala Harris responds: “You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking” pic.twitter.com/AxXNwNKlIW
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) August 8, 2024
Despite the tension during the speech, the real trouble began after the rally ended at around 8:30 p.m. Attendees found themselves in a state of confusion as they tried to find shuttle buses to take them back to their cars. The lack of organization quickly became apparent, with people left to wonder where to go and which buses were heading where.
According to a report by MLive, the scene was chaotic. Some attendees sat in folding chairs or on the grass, while others stood around, trying to figure out the shuttle situation. There were no signs or clear instructions, leading to widespread frustration.
A Kamala volunteer just broke down into tears.
— Josiah Lippincott (@jlippincott_) August 8, 2024
One attendee, Josiah Lippincott, took to social media to describe the chaos. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) that even after 2.5 hours, people were still struggling to find shuttles back to their cars. He noted that campaign staff appeared clueless about what was happening and that the rally’s location near a UPS delivery center only added to the confusion, as trucks were mixed up with the buses.
More photos from earlier. There was no organization or signs showing rally goers how to get on the right bus. Total mess. pic.twitter.com/6kLj3ytNqk
— Josiah Lippincott (@jlippincott_) August 8, 2024
Lippincott’s posts detailed the growing tension among the crowd, with tempers flaring as the wait dragged on. He even mentioned witnessing a Harris campaign volunteer breaking down in tears, overwhelmed by the disorganization. In another disturbing moment, he saw one of Harris’s campaign workers get into a verbal and physical altercation with an attendee, further highlighting the chaotic atmosphere.
To add to the confusion, Lippincott pointed out that the larger white buses on-site were not shuttle buses for rally-goers but were instead designated for union members and others who had been bused in by the campaign. This only added to the frustration for those trying to navigate the disorganized exit.
At one point, a Kamala campaign worker got into a verbal and physical altercation with an attendee. Police were involved. pic.twitter.com/TsQi1Qvmnf
— Josiah Lippincott (@jlippincott_) August 8, 2024
