PICKENS, S.C.—This tiny city of about 3,000 people burgeoned to more than ten times that size as throngs welcomed former President Donald Trump to a pre-July 4 celebration—possibly a once-in-a-lifetime event for residents.
The city’s police chief, Randall Beach, cited estimates setting the crowd size at 50,000 supporters; it was Trump’s first rally following his federal indictment in Florida last month.
Trump, in the July 1 speech, spent several minutes dissecting that case. He also promised to protect citizens’ freedom and the American way of life that they cherish.
“To all of you, I have your back,” he said to thousands of people who were jammed between vintage brick buildings along Main Street in 90-degree heat.
“This is the heart of America here,” U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told The Epoch Times prior to Trump’s remarks, adding that she felt like she was in the midst of “a great big party, just like all Trump rallies are.”
But Greene also addressed a more sobering topic: the criminal charges Trump faces. “Not only is he innocent of all the fake charges the left is throwing against him, but he is the only man that can save America and I’m so happy to be here to support him.”
Dangerous Precedent
Among those who waited in long lines and were thrilled to get inside the barricades for Trump’s rally was Tina Tanner, 64, of Pickens. “I’ve never experienced this before, getting to actually see a former president,” Tanner told The Epoch Times.
She didn’t vote for Trump in 2016 but liked how he ran the country, so he won her vote in 2020.
“It seemed like the country was turning around; I just liked the things that were going on, especially with the economy … and he was aggressive with getting our country more respect in the world,” Tanner said.
Tanner added that “it’s hard to know what to believe in the media,” but based on what she has learned, the criminal charges against Trump seem to lack substance.
“The justice system just seems very biased,” she said. The opposing party is pushing these charges and investigations against Trump and “setting a precedent that they need to be concerned about,” she said. “It may come back to shoot them in the foot.”
By Janice Hisle
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