Getting there was the first hurdle. 7th Avenue was shut down for several blocks north of Madison Square Garden, turning city traffic into rush hour-like conditions on a Sunday morning. Subway entrances and exits were cordoned off with barriers and/or yellow plastic tape. Police were heavily stationed at intersections, directing car and pedestrian traffic.
I decided to hoof it, and walked in from the west on 33rd Street. The first spectacle to catch my eye was a sad testament to the city's ongoing neglect of the homeless. A man laid sprawled on the sidewalk as a brisk fall breeze blew. As he slept, in the distance behind him, the electronic MSG billboard displayed Donald Trump and the caption, "Dream Big Again!"
Closer to the Garden, the crowd came into view, partially at least. Thronged ten deep on the sidewalk on the northeast corner of 8th Ave. and 33rd St., the line stretched forward on 33rd to 7th Ave., and trailed down 7th to 34th, where it turned east for three blocks.
Here's a video of part of the line--it doesn't even include the massive corral in front of the Garden. Note the (mostly) jovial attitudes, despite the fact that these folks had been standing for hours. (Warning: brief, mild profanity as a Trump supporter yells at the protesters across the street.)
The trash cans that normally dot every NYC corner were missing. There were complaints of no port-a-lets. There was a degree of tension in the air as Penn Station commuters, rally-goers, and city dwellers shared the sidewalks. Along with the occasional triggered liberal.
This woman went with the double Bronx cheer. No one provoked her. Just the sight of so many Trump supporters set her off. She wasn't the only one.
The woman below was berating all of the "p****-grabbers" in line. When she turned the corner on 34th, she realized that the line extended for several blocks, and grew silent. Note the looks of bemusement on the faces of the rally crowd.
Contrast that energy with the shining faces of people there for the rally. When they weren't hoisting their signs, these young ladies took the time to debate an older woman holding a "Fascism" sign. The kids are all right!
The Secret Service was on hand, coordinating with the NYPD.
One of the largest and most vocal subgroups present were Jewish New Yorkers.
Conservative influencer and voter registration king Scott Presler was present, mingling with the crowd and sharing his thoughts about the election in his affable manner.
Republican donor and Gristedes grocery store chain CEO John Catsimatidis showed up around noon and was whisked into the VIP entrance.
In a preview of Melania Trump's appearance later in the day, two different women sported copies of the famous $39 "I really don't care, do U" jacket, a not-so-subtle jab the First Lady took at biased mass media in 2018.
In a similar vein, this patriot foretold of the coming of the Hulkster.
Not everyone was there to support Trump, but the opposition's numbers were embarrassing. This is NYC, after all! From 11am until 4pm, this was the most they could muster, about 30 people, tops. They stayed on their side of the street. A few hollered bits of trash talk flew across the avenue, but nothing more substantial.
Toward 5pm, when Trump was speaking, the protester numbers on the steps of the post office-turned-Penn Station building grew to roughly 150, but nowhere near the numbers claimed in mass media (~400).
Throughout the day, big Trump pickups circled the streets that remained open, drawing cheers from the crowd.
A small group of Evangelicals set up shop on the corner and shared the Good Word with any who cared to discuss or debate. They were kind and reasonable folks, and their cross is built with hinges, for easy transportation on the subway.
We'll close with a blinged-out MAGA dog, who was a very good boy all day long.
