AT THE AURORA TRUMP RALLY: Live blog

Sentinel reporter in residence Susan Greene is at the Trump rally at the Gaylord hotel in Aurora.

FROM INSIDE THE GAYLORD HOTEL:

Trump senior aide, Stephen Miller said, “The media wants you to feel ashamed…. They want you to shut up…. We are not gonna shut up.”
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John Fabbricatore, the Republican nominee for U.S. Rep. Jason Crow’s 6th Congressional District seat, the Democrat, explains that the Village People’s “YMCA”  is played at Trump rallies because “it’s a fun song that everybody loves” and is not in fact an anthem to gay men in America. Even if it were, “Donald Trump has never been against the LGBTQ community. He’s has embraced it,” he said.

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They’re playing the song “Pinball Wizard.” “Great balls of fire.” “Gloria.” “YMCA”

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A teary Cindy Romero, former resident at the Edge at Lowry. “It’s just a matter of time before this gets to your community,” she said. “The loud music, the destruction, the gunshots, the crime.” 

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Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky, her voice hoarse, takes the stage to big applause. Spoke of the “broken immigration system,” and the pictures behind her, “This is not a fiction or my imagination,” she said.

She spoke of herself as a hero in Aurora’s story and her decision to “take action” against the infiltration of immigrants. 

“The time of Denver controlling the entire state, these days are over,” she said to big applause. 

Big boos when she mentions Gov. Jared Polis. “Traitor,” “Faggot,” people yelled from the crowd. 

“They can threaten me. They can try to silence me. They can lie about me. They can do what they want. I’m not going anywhere,” Jurinsky said. The crowd roared, yelling “Fight, fight, fight.” Urged the crowd “to get out and talk to people about the election.” 

She spoke of Republicans throughout the state calling and emailing her, backing her efforts calling attention to immigration problems in the state. “I hear your prayers, I feel your loving support,” she said. 

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Lots of boos in the crowd when U.S. Rep. Boebert mentions Venezuelan immigrants in Aurora. She said TdA members have turned the city “into their own playground.” 

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Lilly Buttshaw, a 17-year-old Cherokee Trail High School junior skipping school to attend the rally. Says she’s here to support her friends, who support Trump — the candidate she said “knows what’s right.” 

“My whole family supports him. There is no other choice,” she said. 

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Brothers Elijah and Joshua Segal, 17 and 20 respectively — Elijah a student at Denver Jewish Day school and Joshua a student at Columbia University.

Trump, said Elijah — wearing a red, pro-Trump yarmulke  —  is the only candidate “who has Israel top of mind,” and it would only be under his presidency that he would feel “comfortable going to school safely, without threat to our people.”

“He’s just a clear choice for any Jewish American, “ he said. 

Joshua says he regularly faces pro-Palestinian protesters on campus and pro-Hamas stickers and graffiti in the restroom at Columbia’s library.

“I shouldn’t have to deal with that. Nobody should,” he said. 

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Western-hatted cowboys, homeschoolers with their parents, oil and gas lawyers and lobbyists, mothers nursing their children, truckers, two off-duty Walmart greeters, 

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Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly spoke about his office’s tough stances on gangs. Decried Denver’s sanctuary city status in comments met with resounding boos from the crowd.

About TdA members, he said, “They’re sex offenders, they’re murderers.” 

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The stage has blown-up mugshots of TdA members lined up behind the speakers. “Occupied America. TdA Gang Members in Aurora,” they read.

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