Trump Alabama Rally Cancelled Due To Partisan Politics

NBC News affiliate WMTV reported Tuesday that former President Donald Trump’s upcoming rally in Alabama won’t proceed anymore. Organizers canceled the rally over partisan politics. USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park commission chairman Bill Tunnell told WMTV that the Republican party contacted them early, The party worried about the odds that the patriotic event will turn into a “partisan political event” instead. 

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Turning Into A Partisan Political Event

Tunnell said that “After the request was made, then there was contact with the Republican Party, they contacted us and then it became apparent that it was going to be a partisan political event,” instead of the patriotic event the organizers planned for the night. 

Meanwhile, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) sent a letter saying there wasn’t enough time to form an opinion on the matter. He did write that that the park is “available for all political parties and candidates on an equal basis.” 

USS Alabama Wants To Avoid Another ‘Partisan Politics’ Kind Of Event’

Tunnell recalled an earlier event in 2012 where GOP Presidential candidate Rick Santorum turned it into a campaign. He said that this is the reason why the commission abstains from further partisan politics. “Rick Santorum was the … straw that broke the camel's back. And that's when the commission went to the no partisan politics open to the public,” he said.

Trump is making the rounds lately, as he hit the campaign trail again. He made his first rally appearance last week, the first since the conclusion of last year’s election which President Joe Biden won.

Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl said that Trump committed for Saturday night and looked forward to speaking at the Port City. He expressed disappointment that the event is not moving forward.

Previous Trump Rally Also Nixed

The USS Alabama event isn’t the first time Trump had to cancel a rally in Mobile, Alabama. He previously promised to hold a rally in support of now-Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville.

The latter faced former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who famously recused himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation in 2017 much to the displeasure of Trump.

For this event, organizers had to cancel the event due to COVID-19 and the concerns over social distancing. The decision came after GOP Governor Kay Ivey extended an order advising restricted travel outside residents’ homes.

Where Can We Assemble?

Meanwhile, Local Tea Party activist Pete Riehm told WMTV that some people just didn’t want Trump to speak at the event. He added that the cancellation raises concerns about freedom of speech.

“I'll be honest, I feel some people just didn't want it, not just it but President Trump,” he said. “If people can’t assemble in public places, where can we assemble?” 

Watch the Fox10 News reporting that Former President Trump rally canceled at Battleship Park over partisan political concerns:

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Do you agree with the USS Alabama Committee that they don’t want to turn patriotic events into political ones? Or, do you think they should let Trump join as a special guest?

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