Biden and Trump supporters briefly clash outside Kamala Harris event in Fort Worth
Cars honked and people yelled words of support Friday outside First Saint John Cathedral in Fort Worth, where Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris arrived for a campaign stop just days before the Nov. 3 election.
More than 100 Biden-Harris supporters gathered outside before the event began about 12:45 p.m. Friday at the Fort Worth church.
A few Trump-Pence supporters were also in the crowd, and some of them were confronted by several angry Biden-Harris supporters who cursed at them using megaphones and told them they weren’t welcome in the neighborhood.
A few Biden-Harris supporters also yelled at vehicles with Trump banners which drove on East Berry Street in front of the church.
Fort Worth police officers providing security tried to keep the groups separated, and the Trump supporters left the immediate area.
Tensions between the two sides rose after a Biden-Harris campaign bus made a stop at the Miller Avenue Government Center in Fort Worth on Wednesday. A parade of cars filled with Trump supporters drove slowly back and forth displaying campaign flags and repeatedly honking their horns in an attempt to disrupt the event, according to videos posted on social media.
Harris’ visit was one of the most high-profile presidential campaign stops in North Texas in decades. Except for the brief verbal clashes among a few people, Friday’s event proceeded peacefully.
And for most of the event, Biden-Harris supporters shouted their support for their candidates.
Donna Lambert of Fort Worth arrived Friday two hours before Harris’ appearance.
“I voted the first day of early voting,” Lambert said. “Biden-Harris make a good team.”
Jennifer Kearney of Fort Worth said she was at the rally to do more in the election.
“I have driven people to vote,” Kearney said, referring to the program Ride Share 2 Vote. “I thought I would show up and support Biden-Harris.”
One Trump supporter who held a banner said, “I just want to keep Texas red.”
But within seconds after he arrived, a few Biden-Harris supporters surrounded him.
“I thought we would gather in as a group and show our support,” said another Trump supporter who would not give his name for fear of retaliation. “Then I started getting bumped from this guy who wanted us to leave.”
This story was originally published October 30, 2020 at 1:44 PM.
