A planned rally for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in Austin, Texas, was canceled after an incident on Interstate 35, where SUVs and pickup trucks flying Trump flags tailed and harassed a Biden-Harris campaign bus near New Braunfels as it approached Austin from San Antonio, Austin station KEYE reported Saturday.
Several local politicians and candidates were scheduled to speak at the rally, according to the report.
“Texas Democrats were hoping to host speakers like Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Wendy Davis and Austin Mayor Steve Adler but the Texas Democrats told us they canceled the event so not to take away attention from vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who made three stops in the Lone Star State on Friday in Forth Worth, McAllen and Houston,” said the report.
Several videos and images captured the bus being dangerously harassed by trucks. Dr. Eric Cervini, an author who says he flew to Texas to join the tour, said that he called the police as he witnessed the drivers’ behavior. According to him, the Trump supporters actively attempted to drive the bus off the road, and one officer on the scene wearing Thin Blue Line apparel refused to intervene, saying, “Not my jurisdiction.”
The “I-35 corridor” between San Antonio and Austin is one of the fastest-growing regions of Texas. It has traditionally voted Republican, although some areas, like San Marcos, have trended sharply left in recent years, suggesting the area is a potential source of new votes for Democrats hoping to win the Lone Star State.
Democrats deny that the cancelation was specifically due to the road intimidation incident.
As the Biden bus rolled down 11th street toward I-35, Trump supporters scrambled to their trucks to follow it. @cbsaustin pic.twitter.com/idnbDqFU3L
— Jordan Bontke (@JBontkeCBS) October 30, 2020
See all these pickup trucks with Trump flags? They were sitting along I-35, waiting to ambush the Biden/Harris campaign bus as it traveled from San Antonio to Austin. 2/
— Dr. Eric Cervini (@ericcervini) October 31, 2020
There’s video showing the contrary, staffer tried to push their way in and truck pushed back. You don’t cut off people in Texas. pic.twitter.com/UsXIR7moMb
— TXT (@TexasRW) October 31, 2020
How is trying to drive the bus off the road not a chargeable offense and as it relates to the politics of our country not deemed a Federal offense of some sort? The intimidation is sickening.
— Kaly (@kaly1701) October 31, 2020
