City officials and businesses in southwestern Indiana are preparing for heavy security and restricted traffic ahead of President Donald Trump’s campaign rally this week.
Trump plans to attend a fundraiser at Old National Events Plaza in Evansville before the Thursday rally at Ford Center, where he’ll endorse Republican candidate Mike Braun’s U.S. Senate campaign, the Evansville Courier & Press reported . Braun is facing Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, who has been considered a vulnerable Senate incumbent on the ballot this year.
The rally has already filled up the convention center’s hotel and forced the cancellation of a concert for the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, a bagpipe band. Merchants near the rally have said they hope the crowd stays under control and that visitors will boost business.
“We’re staffing for an extremely busy day,” said Josh Tudela, owner of the Comfort by Cross-Eyed Cricket restaurant.
Trump’s visit is an example of why Evansville created the Downtown Economic Improvement District last year, said Joshua Armstrong, director of the Downtown Alliance.
Business owners within the district pay an additional tax levy for downtown improvements. Part of the revenue will be used this week to pay for additional trash cans, and trash pickup crews Friday.
“Overall, we feel calm,” Armstrong said. “Downtown looks really good right now. The sidewalks are nice and clean. The tree wells are nice and mulched. We’re ready for the president.”
Area organizers have planned at least two protests during the event.
Progressive activists from about 18 Indiana counties, Kentucky and Illinois intend to join the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party demonstration outside Trump’s rally. Organizations such as the Sierra Club and Indivisible Evansville will also convene Thursday in a separate anti-Trump event outside Memorial Baptist Church and march toward the Democrat Party’s protest by the Ford Center.
Protesters said the demonstrations will be civil and non-confrontational.
