A judge on Tuesday declined to issue a court order to halt President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, until organizers adopt social-distancing measures to reduce risk of transmission of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus.
The move will allow the president to push ahead with his rally on Saturday, June 20 at Tulsa’s BOK Center, which has a capacity of just under 20,000.
The lawsuit said the prospect of assembling tens of thousands of shouting, chanting people inside an enclosed arena amounted to a “super-spreader” COVID-19 event in the making.
“As currently planned, the event will endanger not only the health of the guests in attendance and the plaintiffs, but the entire Tulsa community and any community to which the guests may afterward travel,” the lawsuit said.
In their complaint, the plaintiffs emphasized that their lawsuit concerns public health and not the president as a public figure, arguing that they would also file a lawsuit if the rally were for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
“If ASM Global moves forward with the event without adequate review, planning, training, protective equipment, and safeguards, cases of COVID-19—and the unavoidable attendant deaths—will rise. Oklahoma’s already strained health care infrastructure will be pushed past the breaking point by the certain spike in COVID-19 presentment at local hospitals,” it added.
However, judge Rebecca Nightingale denied the lawyers’ request for a temporary injunction against the company managing the venue.
“Government officials have advised that the campaign rally as planned is consistent with the guidance for the OURS [Open Up & Recover Safely] plan for entertainment venues, however, in the event that the governing authorities impose new restrictions, we will notify the event organizers immediately,“ she said.
The Trump campaign said this week that every attendee will receive temperature checks, masks, and hand sanitizer before entering the venue.
“I’m concerned about our ability to protect anyone who attends a large, indoor event, and I’m also concerned about our ability to ensure the president stays safe as well,” he said over the weekend.
“COVID is here in Tulsa, it is transmitting very efficiently,” Dart added. “I wish we could postpone this to a time when the virus isn’t as large a concern as it is today.”
Prospective attendees are being told that they can’t sue the Trump campaign or the venue if they contract the CCP virus.
“By clicking register below, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present,” says a statement to people who sign up.
“By attending the rally, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; BOK Center; ASM Global; or any of their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.”
“The lawsuit is still intact and moving forward,” he said. “We will continue to fight in the Oklahoma Supreme Court.”