Greensburg hosts Pence visit, Rally for Black Lives event

Greensburg experienced opposite ends of the political spectrum Thursday, hosting a Cops for Trump rally and a Rally for Black Lives about a half mile from each other.

Vice President Mike Pence attended the noon Cops for Trump rally held in Mid Town Plaza, next door to city hall and the police station. Cops for Trump describes itself as a coalition of police officers who support Trump’s re-election campaign.

Still two hours away from Pence appearance and crowd appears to have hit the state’s limit of 250 people at outside gatherings. Folks still coming. pic.twitter.com/1ShyaAcVQH

— Rich Cholodofsky (@RichCholodofsky) July 30, 2020

South Main Street between Third Street and Euclid Avenue was closed before Pence’s arrival until the rally concluded. Afterwards, he left for an event in Somerset County.

Event is beginning in about a half an hour. Was told I was allowed to take video again. Here is a clip of the crowd gathered at the front of the podium buffer @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/HtPdXaLj1x

— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) July 30, 2020

Pence spoke about 30 minutes on the importance of police and President Donald Trump’s policies on a range of issues.

“Law enforcement isn’t the problem,” he said. “Law enforcement is the solution.”

He promised the Trump administration will continue to support police officers nationwide.

“You are literally what separates order from chaos,” he said.

There were about 400 people in attendance, about half of whom were able to sit in chairs while others stood. Some wore masks and others didn’t. An announcement prior to Pence’s speech asked attendees to remember social distancing and to wear masks.

Retired Westmoreland County Det. Bob Weaver said he appreciated the message and emphasis on the importance of police ahead of what will be an important election.

“No matter what happens, people have to be safe,” Weaver said. “There’s a bunch of good police officers out there.”

The Rally for Black Lives was held from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Clair Park. The event was organized by local Black leaders, according to a news release and is sponsored by Voices of Westmoreland, a grassroots social action group.

“I want my life to matter in this country. But I can’t breathe. Black lives matter. They’re just like yours,” said Lorence King of Greensburg, one of the rally’s organizers.

He was joined by other speakers to promote social change and racial equality.

“I’m not just a police officer. I’m a human being and a Black man,” said state police Cpl. Aaron Allen. “And I stand with the community because I’m a part of it as well. I was born and raised in this area.”

Allen is part of the state police Heritage Affairs Office, which helps investigate hate crimes.

The rally was not affiliated with the Black Lives Matter organization.

Around 50 people here for a Rally for Black Lives at St. Clair Park, in Greensburg. pic.twitter.com/Hs9givNAK4

— Nate Smallwood (@nsmallwoodphoto) July 30, 2020

Organizer Lorence King of Greensburg at this morning’s rally in St. Clair Park, sponsored by Voices of Westmoreland pic.twitter.com/EfUvR5NhgP

— Patrick Varine (@VarineTrib) July 30, 2020

Police officers from around Westmoreland County helped in Greensburg with traffic control and directing those who attended the rallies. Police Chief Robert Stafford said he didn’t have anything to do with the Pence rally coming to Greensburg but beefed up police protection was necessary to help outside the event.

“I still don’t know why they’re here, how they picked this place,” he said. “It is an honor to have the Vice President of our United States in our town, whether Republican or Democrat.”

Penn Township Police Chief John Otto was among the first in line waiting to enter the rally.

“They invited me, that’s the reason I’m here, to hear support for the police. When the vice president wants you to come to say thank you, we will certainly listen to that,” Otto said.

Retired state trooper Michael McElfresh, now a security officer at Seton Hill University, attended the rally with more than a dozen members of his Blue Knights motorcycle club.

“Some of these people who are protesting against the police are stereotyping,” said McElfresh.

Police departments from throughout Westmoreland County and the region sent officers to patrol near and around the rally site.

St. Clair Township Police Chief Fran Plummer and another department officer said they know all too well the dangers of policing on a daily basis.

Plummer was on the force in 2015 when St. Clair Officer Lloyd Reed was gunned down while responding to a domestic call in nearby New Florence. The man who fired the fatal shots was acquitted of murder charges by a Westmoreland County jury in 2018.

“This is definitely a pro-police rally and we’re here to help our fellow officers,” Plummer said noting his appreciation of Thursday’s large crowd.

A posted sign warning about the risks of Covid-19 is taped onto the press check in table before the start of the “Cops for Trump” rally in Greensburg @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/NInVC0u6KP

— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) July 30, 2020

In a press call Wednesday, local and state Democratic leaders criticized the Cops for Trump rally and the administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“As the chair of the coronavirus task force, Vice President Pence should be thinking about how to help families in places like Westmoreland County, not attending a campaign event,” said Tara Yokopenic, Westmoreland County Democratic Committee chairwoman.

“We do not need a two-hour visit and a photo-op from Vice President Pence,” she said. “We need a plan to get this country and this county back on track. We need them to do their jobs.”

This vehicle has been circling the block. pic.twitter.com/oAzv8Bjwb6

— Renatta Signorini (@ByRenatta) July 30, 2020