A man was arrested at a Pennsylvania rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump last week. The man, identified as Stephen A. Weiss of Pittsburgh, was hoping to hang a banner to protest Trump’s policies, according to Johnstown’s police chief. Weiss was charged with misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after he allegedly ran onto the arena floor, jumped onto the media stage, and began yelling towards President Trump while he was speaking. Weiss had faked a foot injury and concealed a tube of glue in a metal crutch. It is unclear what the banner said as arena staff apparently discarded it.
Authorities stated that the man who accompanied Weiss to the rally was not aware of Weiss’ plan. Weiss was also charged with disrupting a public meeting, a misdemeanor. The Secret Service questioned Weiss on Friday, and he was released later that night. A court hearing for Weiss is scheduled for Oct. 9. A Trump campaign spokesman did not offer any comment on the incident. The disruption occurred shortly after Trump criticized major media outlets for unfavorable coverage. Despite the incident, Trump jokingly asked the crowd if there was anywhere more fun to be than a Trump rally.
The arrest of Weiss comes amid heightened scrutiny of security at Trump rallies since a gunman fired at Trump in July during an outdoor rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Security at political events has been noticeably tighter since then. The incident involving Weiss is just one of the many disruptions that have occurred at political rallies in recent years. Protesters often use these events as a platform to voice their opposition to certain politicians and policies. While free speech is a fundamental right in the United States, authorities must balance protecting public safety with allowing individuals to express their opinions in a peaceful manner.
